1.13: Discussion Questions
- Page ID
- 290943
This page is a draft and is under active development.
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- In section 1.3.1, it is suggested that “for the extreme egalitarian, human beings should have equal rights under law, equal power and standing in the community, and approximately equal possessions (insofar as they have possessions at all, as opposed to everything being owned in common).” Which, if any, of these goals do you agree with? How close is our society to realizing the goal(s) you do agree with? What measures should we take to realize them?
- How confident are you that we can overturn our social, economic, and political structures and replace them with better ones? In other words: is radical change something to be feared, or something to be embraced?
- Do you subscribe to a political ideology? If so, what is it? If not, why not?
My Discussion Questions
- Discuss each aspect of this elaborated definition of political ideology: a configuration of concepts that describes (including unit of analysis) and assesses the social world with an eye to mobilizing people for action. [DuAP]
- What does it mean to say ideologies differ in terms of definitions of key concepts, prioritizations, and divergence in terms of concepts?
- Describe the left-right ideological continuum from robustly egalitarian to adamantly inegalitarian.
- Describe the left-right ideological continuum in the U.S. in terms of mainstream ideologies and political parties.
- How and why is the ideological center in the U.S. to the right of the Canadian, Western European, and especially the Scandinavian ideological center?
AI generated discussion questions
- Dimensions of Equality: Extreme egalitarianism involves equal legal rights, equal power, and approximately equal possessions. Which of these do you believe is the most challenging for a modern liberal democracy to achieve?
- Structural Change: Does the prospect of replacing our current economic structures fill you with fear (a traditionalist/conservative reaction) or confidence (a radical/egalitarian reaction)?
- Unit of Analysis: Identify the unit of analysis for Liberalism, Socialism, Feminism, and Nationalism. How does focusing on the "individual" vs. the "social class" change how you view poverty?
- The Pragmatism Critique: Is it possible to be "pragmatic" without an ideological framework? Why does the text argue that "merit" does not simply "leap out" of a case?
- Comparative Centers: Why might a "centrist" policy in Sweden be considered "far-left" in the United States? What does this tell us about the "local" spectrum?
- Berlin’s Collision: If two "Great Goods" like justice and mercy clash, does this mean one ideology must be "wrong"? How does this support a pluralist approach?
- Reinforcing Hegemony: Can you identify a movie or family tradition that reinforces a specific ideological belief as "common sense"?
- Modern Divides: How does the "Anywheres" vs. "Somewheres" debate explain why traditional left-right party alliances are shifting in modern elections?
- Possibility vs. Utopia: In politics, "ought implies can." If a political goal is deemed "unrealistic," does it cease to be an ideology and become a utopia? Who gets to decide what is "realistic"?
- The Party Trap: Provide an example of a time a political party (Liberal or Conservative) took an action that contradicted their namesake ideology. Why is it a mistake to use party actions as the sole definition of an ideology?