Ideas in Politics with Theories
Introduction quote: "Politics, as we know, is a struggle in which might does not always side with right."
First thing to mention is that ideas are causal beliefs, according to Beland & Cox. Ideas provide guides for actions. This reminds me of ethical theories. Utilitarianism is the theory that morality of an action is judged in terms of the consequences. This idea of utilitarianism causes people to believe that the actions that are right or wrong can be justified due to the fact that there are more benefits than consequences. As mentioned in the quote above, in politics, ideas are not always right. For example, slavery was an idea by people at the time to take control of people who weren't their kind. It was an idea to make sure they were the superior. In utilitarianism, the action was "morally good" because it only took the minority's freedom for the benefit of the majority. Overall, ideas shape how the society understands political problems, decisions, etc. Although, it was in the Declaration of Independence that stated that all men were equal. Society, back then, did not see the African Americans as humans much less "men", therefore they did not see it as breaking the promise of such an important document. They believed that equality was only meant for white men. Thus, politics was driven by the people who had the same ideas/beliefs that deemed slavery as not a political problem.
I chose this quote because it made me think about the fact that ideas shape the political world. Donald Trump's ideas were to make American great again by removing those "who don't belong here". I don't agree with these ideas and the Democratic Party does not either but Trump has the Republican Party on his side. Therefore, although the idea is not "right", it shaped not only the main politics during his presidential career but it influenced the way society in America has become.
First thing to mention is that ideas are causal beliefs, according to Beland & Cox. Ideas provide guides for actions. This reminds me of ethical theories. Utilitarianism is the theory that morality of an action is judged in terms of the consequences. This idea of utilitarianism causes people to believe that the actions that are right or wrong can be justified due to the fact that there are more benefits than consequences. As mentioned in the quote above, in politics, ideas are not always right. For example, slavery was an idea by people at the time to take control of people who weren't their kind. It was an idea to make sure they were the superior. In utilitarianism, the action was "morally good" because it only took the minority's freedom for the benefit of the majority. Overall, ideas shape how the society understands political problems, decisions, etc. Although, it was in the Declaration of Independence that stated that all men were equal. Society, back then, did not see the African Americans as humans much less "men", therefore they did not see it as breaking the promise of such an important document. They believed that equality was only meant for white men. Thus, politics was driven by the people who had the same ideas/beliefs that deemed slavery as not a political problem.
I chose this quote because it made me think about the fact that ideas shape the political world. Donald Trump's ideas were to make American great again by removing those "who don't belong here". I don't agree with these ideas and the Democratic Party does not either but Trump has the Republican Party on his side. Therefore, although the idea is not "right", it shaped not only the main politics during his presidential career but it influenced the way society in America has become.
Hi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI really find the quote you chose interesting. I agree with you that if politicians were adhering to the principles of Utilitarianism they would find justification in enslaving members of a different race or class because they are said to be in the minority. Utilitarianism is touted as an ethical philosophical way of thinking that promotes the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people, therefore, the demography of Whites to African Americans puts the slave owners in the majority whose wish to enslave , whether wrong or right, was fulfilled. However, one of the criticisms against Utilitarianism is that it at times promotes the tyranny of the majority as in the case of the institutionalization of slavery.
The evil effects of slavery were brought to the fore decades later and it led to the abolition of slavery as we know it though the negative effects of slavery still endure. This proves that when ideas are made powerful through their institutionalization, they can prove very hard to debunk. The physical manifestation of slavery may have been abolished but its psychological principles are alive and well in society to this day.