Political Philosophy Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Political Philosophy distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

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Quick Reference

Social Contract Theory

The idea that legitimate political authority rests on an agreement, real or hypothetical, among individuals to form a society and accept certain obligations in exchange for the protection of their remaining rights. Key theorists include Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.

Justice as Fairness

John Rawls's theory that principles of justice are those that free and rational persons would accept from behind a 'veil of ignorance,' where no one knows their place in society. The resulting principles prioritize equal basic liberties and permit inequalities only if they benefit the least advantaged members.

Natural Rights

Rights that individuals possess by virtue of their humanity rather than by grant of any government. These rights are considered universal, inalienable, and discoverable through reason. The concept was central to Enlightenment political thought.

Sovereignty

The supreme authority within a territory, entailing the power to make and enforce laws without external interference. Debates about sovereignty address who ultimately holds this power: a monarch, the people, a constitution, or some other entity.

Utilitarianism in Politics

The principle, advanced by Bentham and Mill, that the right political action or policy is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. It evaluates institutions and laws by their consequences for overall well-being.

Libertarianism

A political philosophy emphasizing individual freedom, voluntary association, and minimal state intervention. Libertarians argue that the only legitimate functions of government are protecting individuals from force and fraud, and that most regulation infringes on personal liberty.

Positive and Negative Liberty

Isaiah Berlin's distinction between freedom from external constraints (negative liberty) and the freedom to achieve one's potential through access to resources and opportunities (positive liberty). The tension between these concepts underlies many political debates.

Legitimacy

The right of a political authority to govern and the corresponding obligation of citizens to obey. Theories of legitimacy address what conditions must be met for a government's exercise of power to be morally justified.

Republicanism

A political tradition that defines freedom as non-domination rather than mere non-interference. Republicans emphasize civic virtue, active political participation, and institutional safeguards against arbitrary power.

Distributive Justice

The branch of political philosophy concerned with the fair allocation of resources, opportunities, and burdens among members of a society. Competing theories include egalitarianism, libertarianism, sufficientarianism, and luck egalitarianism.

Key Terms at a Glance

Anarchism:The political theory that all forms of involuntary government are unnecessary and harmful, advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation.

Authority:The right to command and the corresponding duty to obey, distinguished from mere power by its claim to moral legitimacy.

Autonomy:The capacity of individuals or peoples to govern themselves according to their own rational principles and values.

Civic Virtue:The qualities of character and habits necessary for citizens to sustain a self-governing political community.

Common Good:Conditions of social life that enable all members of a community to flourish, as distinct from the aggregate of private interests.

Consent:The voluntary agreement of individuals to be governed, often cited as the basis of political legitimacy in liberal theory.

Constitutionalism:The principle that government authority is defined and limited by a foundational set of laws or a constitution.

Democracy:A system of government in which power is vested in the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives.

Despotism:A form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power, unchecked by law or institutional constraints.

Egalitarianism:The doctrine that all people are fundamentally equal and should have equal political, social, and economic rights and opportunities.

Federalism:A system of governance in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units such as states or provinces.

Hegemony:The dominance of one group or state over others, often maintained through cultural and ideological influence rather than direct force.

Ideology:A coherent system of ideas and beliefs about politics, economics, and society that shapes political action and institutional design.

Imperialism:The policy or practice of extending power and dominion over other peoples or territories, typically through colonization or military force.

Liberalism:A political tradition emphasizing individual rights, limited government, rule of law, and equality before the law.

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