1.4 Normative Political Science
3 min read•june 18, 2024
evaluates how politics should work based on moral principles. It assesses political systems, proposes reforms, and guides institution design to promote values like and . This approach encourages critical thinking about the ethical aspects of political decisions.
Methodologies in this field include philosophical reasoning, thought experiments, and conceptual analysis. Scholars examine political ideas across time and cultures, test theories in real-world contexts, and use various approaches to define key concepts like citizenship and just governance.
Normative Political Science
Purpose of normative political science
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The three moral codes of behaviour | Clamor World View original
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Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development - Wikipedia View original
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Chapter 6: Political Theory – Politics, Power, and Purpose: An Orientation to Political Science View original
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Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development - Wikipedia View original
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- Focuses on how politics and political systems should function based on moral and ethical principles rather than simply describing current operations
- Evaluates political arrangements, institutions, and processes to determine if they align with normative ideals (justice, equality, )
- Proposes reforms or alternative political structures to better achieve normative goals
- Provides a framework for assessing the desirability and legitimacy of political systems (democracies, authoritarian regimes)
- Offers guidance on designing and improving political institutions to promote normative values
- Encourages critical reflection on the moral dimensions of political decision-making and public policy (healthcare reform, immigration)
Methodologies in political philosophy
- Philosophical reasoning and argumentation involve constructing and critiquing logical arguments based on moral principles and political values
- Engages in thought experiments to test the coherence and implications of normative theories (, )
- Conceptual analysis clarifies and defines key political concepts (justice, equality, liberty, )
- Examines the relationships and tensions between different normative values
- Historical and comparative analysis studies the evolution of political ideas and institutions across time and cultures (ancient Greece, era)
- Identifies common themes and divergences in normative political thought
- Empirical observation and case studies assess the real-world consequences of different political arrangements and policies
- Tests the feasibility and desirability of normative proposals in specific contexts (, )
Approaches to defining political concepts
- approaches emphasize the intrinsic rightness or wrongness of political actions based on moral duties and rules
- Defines good citizenship as adherence to ethical principles (respect for individual rights, rule of law)
- Evaluates justness of governance based on conformity to moral imperatives (protecting basic liberties, ensuring due process)
- approaches focus on the outcomes and effects of political decisions and institutions
- Defines good citizenship as contributing to overall societal well-being and flourishing
- Assesses justness of governance based on ability to promote beneficial consequences (maximizing social welfare, minimizing suffering)
- Utilizes to evaluate policies based on their ability to maximize overall happiness or well-being
- approaches emphasize the cultivation of moral character and excellence in political actors and citizens
- Defines good citizenship as embodying and exemplifying civic virtues (courage, wisdom, public-spiritedness)
- Evaluates justness of governance based on moral qualities and integrity of political leaders and institutions
- approaches ground and obligation in the idea of a hypothetical agreement among free and equal individuals
- Defines good citizenship as fulfilling responsibilities and duties derived from the
- Assesses justness of governance based on adherence to social contract principles (consent, reciprocity, fairness)
Key concepts in normative political theory
- forms the foundation for evaluating political systems and policies
- Political legitimacy examines the rightful exercise of political authority and citizens' obligation to obey
- addresses the fair allocation of resources, opportunities, and burdens in society
- encompass fundamental freedoms protected from government interference
- ' theory of justice as fairness proposes principles for creating a just society behind a "veil of ignorance"
Key Terms to Review (29)
Altruistic democracy: Altruistic democracy is a political system where decision-making prioritizes the welfare and interests of the entire community over individual gains, ensuring policies and actions are designed for the common good. In this model, the media plays a crucial role in informing citizens about issues that affect society as a whole, encouraging public participation and accountability.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. It engages in litigation, lobbying, and education efforts to support a broad range of issues including freedom of speech, privacy, reproductive rights, and racial justice.
Civil Liberties: Civil liberties are fundamental individual rights and freedoms that are protected from governmental or societal restriction. They are essential for the functioning of a democratic society and ensure the freedom and autonomy of citizens.
Congress of Racial Equality: The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) is a U.S. civil rights organization that played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for the eradication of racial segregation and discrimination through nonviolent protests and actions. Founded in 1942, it was instrumental in organizing the Freedom Rides, sit-ins, and marches to challenge racial inequality.
Consequentialist: Consequentialism is a normative ethical theory that judges the morality of an action based on its consequences. It holds that the consequences of one's conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgment about the morality of that conduct.
Democracy: Democracy is a political system in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through elected representatives. It is a form of government where the people have the authority to choose their own political leaders and make decisions that affect their lives.
Deontological: Deontological ethics is a normative ethical theory that judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to a rule or rules, rather than the consequences of the action. It is concerned with the rightness or wrongness of the action itself.
Distributive Justice: Distributive justice is a concept that focuses on the fair and equitable distribution of societal resources, benefits, and burdens among the members of a community. It is concerned with ensuring that individuals and groups receive their fair share of the advantages and disadvantages within a given system.
Enlightenment: The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized the use of reason, individualism, and the scientific method to challenge traditional social and political structures. It had a profound impact on the development of modern political thought and the understanding of the relationship between the individual, society, and the state.
Equality: Equality is the principle of treating all individuals or groups of people the same, without discrimination or favoritism. It is a fundamental concept in political science that relates to the fair and just distribution of rights, opportunities, and resources within a society.
John Rawls: John Rawls was a prominent American political philosopher whose work on social justice and the principles of a fair society had a significant impact on the field of normative political science and contemporary democratic liberalism.
Justice: Justice is a fundamental principle of fairness, equity, and moral rightness that guides the fair and proper administration of power. It is a concept central to political philosophy, addressing how society should be organized and how the benefits and burdens of cooperation should be distributed among its members.
Liberty: Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. It is a fundamental human right that allows individuals to exercise self-determination and make choices without undue interference from the government or other entities.
Moral Philosophy: Moral philosophy, also known as ethics, is the study of what is morally right or wrong, good or bad. It examines the fundamental principles and values that guide human behavior and decision-making, exploring concepts such as justice, virtue, and the nature of moral reasoning.
Normative Political Science: Normative political science is a branch of political science that focuses on the study of what ought to be, rather than what is. It examines political issues, institutions, and processes from a prescriptive, value-laden perspective, aiming to determine the ideal or desirable state of affairs in the political realm.
On Liberty: "On Liberty" is a philosophical work by John Stuart Mill published in 1859, advocating for the protection of individual freedoms against societal norms and government intervention, as long as those actions do not harm others. It emphasizes the importance of free speech, thought, and individuality within the context of civil liberties discussed in constitutions.
Political Legitimacy: Political legitimacy refers to the acceptance and justification of a political authority or system by the people it governs. It is the belief that the governing authority has the right to exercise power and that the people are obligated to obey its decisions and directives.
Political Philosophy: Political philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice, and the enforcement of laws. It examines the underlying principles and concepts that guide political decision-making and shape the structure of political institutions.
Proportional representation: Proportional representation is an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them. This system allows for a wider range of political parties to be represented in the legislature, reflecting the diversity of voter preferences more accurately than winner-takes-all systems.
Proportional Representation: Proportional representation is an electoral system that aims to allocate political representation in proportion to the votes cast by the electorate. It seeks to ensure that the composition of a legislative body accurately reflects the preferences of the voting population.
Rawls’s theory of justice: Rawls's theory of justice, proposed by philosopher John Rawls, advocates for a society where the fairest distribution of resources and opportunities is ensured through two principles of justice. These principles prioritize basic rights and liberties for all while permitting social and economic inequalities only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.
Social contract: A social contract is an implicit agreement among members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, such as protection and security, by sacrificing some individual freedoms for state protection. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of the government and its citizens to ensure societal stability and order.
Social Contract: The social contract is a philosophical concept that outlines the implicit agreement between a government and its citizens, where individuals surrender certain rights and freedoms in exchange for the protection and order provided by a governing authority. This term is central to understanding the foundations of political legitimacy, the role of the state, and the relationship between the individual and the collective.
Social Contract Theory: Social contract theory is a political philosophy that explores the relationship between individuals and the state. It proposes that individuals willingly surrender some of their freedoms to a governing authority in exchange for the benefits of organized social life, such as protection and the maintenance of order.
Universal Basic Income: Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a form of social security in which all citizens or residents of a country regularly receive an unconditional sum of money from the government, regardless of their income, resources or employment status. It is intended to provide a basic standard of living and address poverty and economic inequality.
Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism is a moral and political philosophy that suggests the best action or policy is the one that maximizes happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people. It evaluates the morality of an action based on its outcomes, emphasizing the collective well-being over individual interests.
Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that holds that the morally right course of action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being for the greatest number of people. It is a consequentialist theory that judges the morality of an action based on its outcomes rather than the action's adherence to a rule or the actor's intentions.
Veil of Ignorance: The veil of ignorance is a thought experiment in political philosophy that aims to ensure fair and impartial principles of justice. It involves imagining oneself behind a 'veil of ignorance' where an individual does not know their place in society, social status, natural abilities, or other contingent facts about themselves. From this impartial perspective, the individual must then decide on the principles of a just society.
Virtue-based: Virtue-based refers to a normative approach in political science that evaluates the morality and character of political actors and institutions based on their adherence to virtuous principles and behaviors. This perspective focuses on the inherent goodness or rightness of actions, rather than solely on their consequences or utility.