Political philosophy. Social Sciences. Book Review

Political Philosophy
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Winter 2020 NAME: _____________________________
SECTION DAY & TIME: ________________________________
WEEKLY PRACTICE EXAMINATION #2
With which author do we associate each of the following concepts, ideas, or quotations? Give the core meaning and significance of each in the space provided. Incorrect information in the context of a satisfactory answer will lower the grade. (Each question is work 4 points: 1 for identifying the author and 3 for the meaning/significance.)
“Bourgeoisie and Proletariat”
Marx (1848) quote tries to show that in any given society, there will always be a class division in terms of income levels. We have the rich "Bourgeoisie" who are the capitalists and the employers and have their livelihood well. And the poor "Proletariat" are there to sell their labor to get a livelihood for them and their families. Thus, a society is meant to have the extremely well to do and the ones that are trying to make ends meet.
“I am not aware of any community that has a right to force another community to be civilized”
Mill (1863) suggests that civilization needs to come from the people within that particular community. In the history of civilization, there is no city that has ever imposed civilization upon another an underdeveloped community. Hence, it is of non-significance for other developed societies to forcefully claim development in uncivilized communities as it can bring in hostility within communities.
“Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians provided the end be their improvement and the means justified by actually effecting that end.”
The author (Mill, 1863), is implying that, at times, for governments to bring peace in the country they need to take extra steps even though it means hurting some people to bring in peace. Despotism is considered liberal when it comes to governments finding solutions for justification and bringing peace in communities even if extreme inhumane measures need to be applied. It can crucially teach lessons of obedience, which prepares people for the next stage of civilized development and governance.
“The 'dangerous class,' the social scum, that passive rotting mass thrown off by the lowest layers of old society, may, here and there, be swept into the movement by a proletarian revolution"
The quote is from Marx (1848), "The Communist Manifestation." Marx strongly advocates for the minority groups in society that are over oppressed. The oppressed are either bribed by proletarians who are the dangerous class of people and rebel against injustice, or they can be under-looked in society keeping them rotting on streets. Thus, the lower class in society can either rot on the streets or get up and be swayed by the revolutionists in society to stand up for their rights.
“…. rather than exit, is for the customer or member to make an attempt at changing the practices, polices, and outputs of the firm from which one buys or the organization to which one belongs”
The quote is from Exit, Voice, and Loyalty, a book by Hirschman (1970). The statement above shows that if a customer is dissatisfied with the company's product or services, they can exit the company. Rather than them being loyal and trying to change their outputs or practices. They should exit and shift to another product or get another membership in another organization.
“Thereupon the workers begin to form combinations (Trades Unions) against the bourgeois; they club together in order to keep up the rate of wages”
The statement is from Marx (1848), and states that workers who were regarded as the low-income earners formed collaborated groups that were against their supreme employers, the bourgeois. Within these groups, they would enjoy each other's company as they had to maintain their spending that matched their income wages. Therefore, individuals need to spend time with their same level of income earners as they are not forced to spend out of their means, but also make cooperatives that help fight the injustice from their employers.
“The Manifesto being our joint production…”
According to Marx (1848), suggests that what brings the proletariat and the bourgeoisie together is the manifestation that helps them be productive in society. The production of society comes from the historical epoch, economic output, and social setting of a community, and it is the responsibility of intellectual and political history to explain the situation. Hence, already the society is divided between the oppressed and ruling classes, the better way to bring them together is by manifestation.
“When in the course of development, class distinctions have disappeared…”
In his book Marx (1848), he suggests that when divisions of the oppressed and the ruling class have disappeared, then power goes to a central system in control. The power holder is the political power that leaves the bourgeoisies powerless and have no control over the proletariats. Therefore, with development comes in a shift of power from one class to an organized system of power, abolishing supremacy of a particular class.
“The greatest harm done is to those who are not heretics, and whose whole mental development is cramped and their reason cowed by the fear of heresy.”
There are two types of people in the world, believers with faith and believers without faith. According to Mill (1863), when the two came together and confronted by a non-believer, the two try to reason out for a non-believer to understand their religion, but a heretic is easily intimidated by the heresy of the non-believer. Thus, it is easily for one to be swayed by words if there have no strong faith in their religion, customs, or beliefs.
“…the possibility that his opinion may be false, he ought to be moved by the consideration that, however true it may be, if it is not fully, frequently, and fearlessly discussed, it will be held as a dead dogma, not a living truth”
Mill's (1863) Liberty book states that if an individual is not willing to prove his truth, his statements are left hanging, which questions the truthiness of his or her opinion. For a strong idea to be deemed right, one has to research the information thoroughly. Thus, to check whether it is frequently talked about and have the capacity to own their opinion and have possibilities that may be false, research helps them to clear things up.
“History of class struggles”
The quote is from Marx (1848), "The Communist Manifestation." The previous history of societies is responsible for the present social struggles. The current struggles of the different economic classes conflict for ownership and possession of material and power, and it was all caused by the hitherto history of the existing communities.
“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.”
According to Mill (1863) cautions that one-way power can be rightfully and equally implemented is when some people are pressed to the wall. By the rules so that it can benefit the majority of classes in communities. For the liberation of a civilized society, a particular type of people needs their powers to be taken away to give freedom to the oppressed group.
“…he assumes infallibility”
The quote is from Mill's (1863) book of "On Liberty." The quote means that for one to protect the judgment of their country, they have the right to defend their own opinions. The person assumes that if they have the fear to hear a public resolution passed on their country, they think that they hold the truth, and everything else is false. Therefore, it is in the right for a person to stay by the truth they know on their country, beliefs, or customs.
“Some customers stop buying the firm’s products or some members leave the organization”
According to Hirschman (1970), in the quote above, meant the exit of customers from an organization. When clients decline in number or members leave the organization, it brings negative impacts for businesses and organizations. Therefore, their profits and revenues decline, which compels the managers to find ways to correct their mistakes.
"The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our good in our way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs or impede their efforts to obtain it."
The quote is got from “On Liberty” by Mill (1863). When one needs to thrive on their success and not admire other individual’s hard work. The only way one gets the freedom is by enjoying their hand’s work, and not to take away from other’s as they have worked hard to enjoy their success.
“All previous historical movements were movements of minorities, or in the interest of minorities. The proletarian movement is the self-conscious, independent movement of the immense majority, in the interest of the immense majority.”
The Proletarian movement refers to the working-class group of people. Marx (1848), refers to them as the interest group and the immense majority as they occupy the most significant percentage of the population from industrial workers to housekeepers. Their movement is insecure because they have to work in harsh conditions to get a wage to support their living. Thus, the low income earners are ever insecure about their livelihoods and there are the vast population in society.
“Such of them as could not stand such a discussion, though they may be prevented from spreading do not disappear.”
Mill (1863) shines a light on false ideas. When wrong opinions are forwarded for discussion and debate, defending them is prohibited. But Mill claims that one can have the liberty of speech to extinguish the spread of false doctrines. Hence, people have the power and right to put out false information about anything.
“Remove themselves from the scene through voluntary exile.”
Hirschman (1970), in the statement, sees traditional migration as an idea of exile and return. When an individual feels oppressed by the current political leaders, they have the will to exit the country. They can voluntarily exile and come back when they see the time is right for them.
“An important bias in favor of exit when both options are present”
The quote was derived from “Exit, Voice, and Loyalty” written in 1915 by Hirschman. It means a genuine reason for...