MMW 14 Lecture Notes - Professor Babak PDF

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[email protected]@ucsd.edu Lecturer’s office MMW TA suite, Mon Wed 4-5p or after class Course reader? Lecture 1: 7/03/17 Monday I. Making of the modern world is making of the modern human A. To understand aspects of mod world we study: 1. History, econ, political philosophy, art, music B. No man is an island 1. We live together, depend on each other, how will we coordinate our efforts? a) Two ways we coordinate; much of our life is determined by: (1) Markets (a) Determine who gets what in condition of scarcity (b) I have too much this and too little this (2) States (a) Organized political units living under a government (b) Politics is the way in which we influence a state (c) Organize efforts in a way that is beneficial to most b) Humans must decide; to answer this is politics (1) Who deserves what (2) What rules we live under C. Aristotle said humans are zoon politikon 1. Politics are the defining trait of humanity a) Reason b) Discuss c) Plan D. We are also economic animals - trade 1. Adam smith 1776 father of modern econ- Wealth of Nations a) Said we naturally want to trade barter etc with each other E. Liberalism - one of defining concepts of MMW 14 1. Econ and pol concept 2. How state and market should work 3. Dominant mode of pol and econ org in the world today is liberal democracy a) Individual rights (inalienable) b) Liberty c) Equality d) Universalism 4. Not the only mode 5. Life has not always been like this

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Malthusian Economy A. The Black Death B. Mid 14th c. 40% pop of europe died from bubonic plague 1. Yersinia pestis C. What were social implications of the plague? D. What happened to the standard of living of those left behind? 1. Went down if a lot of people died today a) Fewer people to provide 2. But in 14th c, those left behind, their wages and living standards increased a) Across euro wages and living increased to level unmatched until 19th c 3. 14th c euros lived in malthusian world, like most humans a) Thomas Robert Malthus (1) 1766-1834 (2) Anglican parson (3) An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798) (4) Implies sumerian peasants in the 30th c BCE lived on the edge of subsistence, so did french peasants in 1800 CE (a) New glasses and printing press, tech improvement didnt increase wages bc people increased instead (5) Natural inequality of two powers of pop and prod of the earth and that great law of our nature which must constantly keep their efforts equal form the great difficulty that appears to be insurmountable in the way to the perfectability of society b) Measure wages over time, c) Living standards higher = more babies and more live d) Pop rises, wages go back down, babies dont live, e) Malthusian econ: (1) David Ricardo’s iron law of wages holds: real wages always tend towards the subsistence level (a) Bc everyone is a farmer (b) Higher density= lower wages (2) Until 1800 there was no increase in the living standards of the average person f) Life was not the same everywhere, but wages were similar bc malthusian trap g) Things that are consistent with malthusian econ: (1) Inequality (2) Regional variation in population (3) Regional variation in living standards

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(4) Cultural change (5) New tech h) Implications: (1) Charity didnt help the poor (a) Thought moral reprobation was better (b) Only allows temporary living standards (c) Makes more kids = still poor living standards (2) Being dirty makes us richer (a) Dirty societies die later (b) Die of disease but lowers pop = higher living standard (3) Institutions that encourage fewer children raise living standards (4) Violence famine and pestilence raise living standards Currently: great divergence 1. As pop increases, living standards still increases, somehow we’re getting richer How did we escape the malthusian trap/ Why did western europe escape first? Traditional explanations: 1. Geography a) Close and can trade b) Land is good for crops c) Sucks if bad land, isolation, no work animals, endemic diseases 2. Culture a) Protestant work ethic, b) Religious changes in euro (1) Protestant reformation created cultural atmosphere that led to science and universities, increased cultural output (2) Others say not that, but stole shit (a) New world, slaves (b) No longer have an energy constraint c) Found coal to burn 3. Resource acquisition a) Slavery, coal, colonies b) Lift resource constraints euros faced (1) Pomeranz ‘s explanation for why england grew but not china 4. Institutions a) Favorable institutions (1) Property rights

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(2) Rule of law (3) Banking (4) Joint-stock companies (a) Can get money from a company you’re not doing anything for b) Inclusive versus extractive institution Lecture 2: 7/05/17 Wednesday - Enlightenment and the Social Contract I. People that experience great divergence first use that power to control and subdue rest of world- feel entitled to do so II. Korean peninsula is example of institution A. North v south 1. Similar languages and histories except government has different institutions a) S. korea organized such that it benefits the people b) N. korea organized such that the strong laws stifle growth III. Institutions A. Sets of practices that bind human behavior 1. Laws, property rights, democracy B. Meant to capture practices filtered through sets of rules 1. Not meant to be culture IV. Legitimacy A. Authority that is lawfully used 1. Laws that make sense B. How is it created and bestowed? 1. By consent C. How is authority created? 1. By well-reasoned law D. What does the proper state look like? 1. It serves the good of its people; operates according to well reasoned laws, and is based upon the consent of the governed E. Examples 1. Pulling over when a cop comes up behind you 2. In russia then run from the police 3. Prof bolar is behind us telling us to pull over 4. Respect the law because it’s the right thing to do 5. Most people follow the law in ‘good’ countries a) Sense of duty V. Post Black Death A. Higher living standards B. Weakening of authority C. Fragmentation of political authority

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D. Fragmentation of church authority E. Printing press created F. Ruling powers in Euro divided, disorganized, squabbling The rise of the West A. New wealth arrives in euro as the regain contact and trade with word after 1500 B. Central authorities were often unable to take it all for themselves, nor to completely control its uses C. Remarkable changes since 15th c. in euro 1. Renaissance 2. Protestant reformation 3. Scientific revolution 4. Enlightenment D. Business men of this era weren’t well off, but made connections to be successful and gain more wealth Institutions matter A. European states find themselves with more money than they are accustomed to having. They get it in different ways 1. Spanish get gold and silver 2. Portuguese levy tolls on indian ocean trade a) Kinda like mafia b) Protect but impose taxes 3. English build colonies of englishmen 4. Dutch build commercial powers B. The ones in which liberal political and economic doctrines come to the forefront are the most successful at creating long-lasting prosperity 1. Inclusive versus extractive institutions a) Spaniards who come into mexico place selves at top of social order (1) Don’t remake societies, just replace elites to take wealth (2) Extractive (3) Ex. slave plantations in caribbeans b) English turn new england and new york into richest parts of americas (1) Inclusive (2) More people = more prosperous The basis of Social order A. Traditional morality and traditional authority were no longer considered adequate bases for social order 1. A basis for social order was sought without the necessity of: a) Revelation b) Christian sanction c) Custom

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2. Two sources of inspiration a) Stoic philosophers of the ancient world b) The doctrine of natural law and reason (1) Not created by men (2) Accessed through conscience B. Ruler should behave in a self sacrificing, calculating, calm cool, duty bound 1. Height of roman empire? a) These men had authority because they deserved it 2. Republican virtue painting a) The oath of the horati (horati family) b) Painted by frenchman 5 years before french rev 1785 c) Swearing an oath administered by father d) They are romans about to go into battle against a rival family repping a rival city e) Kill the sister who curses the roman state for having her brothers kill her fiance (1) Petty family squabbles are nothing against importance of state 3. Cincinnatus a) Must give power to one man to lead us to success, then give up power after event is over b) Cincinnatus is a farmer, rome begged him to a dictator, destroyed enemy, went back to being a farmer (1) Founding fathers wanted people like him (2) Public spirited men who served for goodness not glory c) Proper example for ruling men (1) Selfless, sacrifice life and family d) Stoic virtues of ancient rome 4. The school of athens / reason a) Importance placed upon debate and reason to make the world perfect b) Society can improve over time if humans can reason and lie fully c) Reason > long time success d) Scientific method > new wonders e) In this era the rich were patrons and supported the arts and sciences The Law, our Master A. They are free - yes - but not entirely free; for they have a master, and that master is law which they fear much more than your subjets fear you 1. Demartus on spartans to xerxes B. Fora s in absolute government the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other

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1. Thomas paine, Common Sense Before liberalism A. The three estates 1. Knights 2. Priests 3. Peasants a) Protected by other two to work and provide b) In french rev- seen carrying other two unfairly B. Roles define by birth and status and legitimated by the church tradition and custom 1. Organic hierarchy existed: in other words, natural and not made by man C. Divine right of kings 1. Ex. napoleon crowns himself 2. Render unto caesar-jesus Martin luther A. Against murderous thieving hordes of peasants B. Believed in secular traditional power Thomas hobbes A. Liberal B. English political philosopher C. 1588-1679 D. English civil war 1642-1651 E. Leviathan The immortal beast 1651 1. State exists by our consent for our own good a) Consent is what makes him an early liberal 2. Absolute monarchy is best 3. Legitimacy by consent 4. By nature, state of fear makes us dangerous to each other a) We want to eliminate something before it kills you (1) Inevitably becomes state of war b) Life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short 5. We consent to form a social contract and to create the leviathan(a monarch, power) a) For protection and promote commodious living John locke A. English political philosopher B. 1632-1704 C. Glorious revolution 1688 1. Aka english revolution 2. Parliament asserts authority in england D. Two treatises of government published in 1689

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E. Property and natural law 1. Natural law exists prior to the creation of civil society a) We have a conscience that allows us to ‘read’ the natural law 2. The natural law tells us that we own ourselves, our consciences, and our labor a) Through our labor we acquire property rights 3. Civil society exists to secure our natural rights of ‘life, liberty, and property’ a) Hobbes said we need law to protect each other from each other b) Locke said we need it to protect rights c) Property is the most controversial d) Why thom jeff changed to pursuit of happiness e) Property and labor (1) Your work is your land (your acorns), natural law (a) Take out of communal property and make it their own (b) People may try to assert their rights by fighting (c) In this case civil law may be bad? (2) Make farmland and crop out of cleared forest, it’s now yours (a) Euros’ excuse for new world taking (b) But can only take as long as theres enough for everyone else F. Believes we have natural rights as children of god G. Own our own body, own own conscience ideas and beliefs When the Sovereign Fails A. Locke says civil unrest results from people disrespecting religion. Govt forces people to have same religion B. Any good government will protect your own rights to your body, speech, etc. things taken for granted C. Locke said when leviathan is the problem, we have the right and duty to destroy it D. American complaints 1. Economic exploitation by england a) taxation , forcible etc… 2. Listed in the declaration of independence a) We hold these truths to be self evident (true by conscience) 3. The ideal summarized a) In the founder's ideal america authority is vested in the law which is guided by reason and bound by the natural law it protects traditional liberties and derives from the consent of the people who stand equal under the law

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau A. 1712-1778, intellectual, hang out with rich people but not too rich, but looks down upon the rich B. Discourse on Inequality published in 1755 C. On Social Contract published in 1762 D. Important inspiration for the French Revolution (1789-1799) E. Rousseau is different in 1. Not as happy about reason a) Forerunner of romanticism 2. Importance of sentiment 3. Believes humans are naturally compassionate 4. Does not think that the state of nature is awful 5. Does not think that property is natural 6. Not the natural human who’s cruel, but the civilized one who is a) State nature will be compassionate b) Civilized one will think of themselves first (1) Reason has tamed natural sentiments (2) Told us we can logically and reasonably ignore others’ suffering F. Wrote book on origin of inequality 1. First man who staked claim on land thought people naive to believe him because they forgot that the earth belongs to us all G. On human nature 1. Two fundamental principles: a) Love of self b) Compassion for the suffering of others (1) V dif from hobbes 2. Pity is what carries us without reflection to the aid of those who 3. The noble savage-desires are clear (natural man) a) Fast strong and capable b) Simple c) Compassionate d) Self-reliant e) Confident f) Free g) Urban man in incapable without tools h) Rousseau knew we would not be this, locke and hobbes thought we would stay natural because it is the best, why would we leave it (1) Rousseau wrote about this against his people to show flaws in them i) Ex. dances with wolves, avatar are idealizations, tropes

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H. Civilization is seductive 1. Made men weak 2. Seductive beauty, art, 3. Took away strength, ability to provide for self, made them decadent, inferior to wild savage I. The effects of reason 1. Reason is what engenders egocentrism, and reflection strengthens it. Reason is what turns man in upon himself. Reason is what separates him from all that troubles him and afflicts him. Philosophy is what isolates him, and what moves him to say in secret, at the sight of a suffering man, “perish if you will; i am safe and sound” J. Reason over pity 1. His fellow man can be killed with impunity underneath his window. He has merely to place his hand over his ears and argue with himself a little in order to present nature, 2. Our sentiments tell us to help, but our reason tells us to avoid danger K. The arts and sciences 1. With leisure, people developed new tools and arts, which were good at first but soon these conveniences became necessities a) Never should leave the naturalness, and become dependent on new things b) New weakness makes it impossible to go back L. Inequality in civilization 1. We compare ourselves and seek not to live simply and well, but to be esteemed by others. Life is a competition 2. Natural inequalities become exacerbated. The hard workers, the inventive, and the strong gain advantages over the weaker 3. But they are insecure in their possessions. They translate their natural inequality into political and moral inequality by est. rules and govt that protect and help to inc inequalities M. Seductive civilization 1. Domesticated, dependent, corrupt, greedy, unhappy 2. Civilized corrupted hearts lack compassion and civilization 3. Overstressed and relax with wholly vacuous things N. The faults of civilization 1. “Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains” 2. What do we do to avoid the inequalities that rousseau sees in civilization 3. This is the project of The Social Contract O. The social order 1. Social order is a sacred right which is the basis of all other rights. Nevertheless this right does not come from nature, and must therefore be

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founded on conventions 2. Our civil society, or govt, our state is not natural but conventional a) Meaning it was made by humans and can be changed by humans The master’s morality 1. Masters try to trick people into believing that what is good for the master is everyone’s duty 2. “The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty” Authority 1. It is impossible for coercion to est authority 2. “To renounce liberty is the renounce being a man” 3. ‘Since no man has a natural authority over his fellow, and force creates no right, 4. “It will always be equally foolish for a man to say to a man or to a people ‘ i make with you a convention wholly at your expense and wholly to my advantage; i shall keep it as long as i like and you will keep it as long as i like” 5. A one sided contract makes no sense and is null and void 6. Every law the people have not ratified in person is null and void--is in fact not a law 7. The legislative power belongs to the people, and can belong to it alone The general will 1. We collectively agree to submit to the general will of which our will is a part 2. The general will is the will of the people as a whole 3. It means basically the rule of law derives from rule of people but unrestricted by 4. We agree to live under gen will a) Freedom in society is to live under the rules that we ourselves decree b) By living under the gen will we retain our freedom in civil society 5. Seem to ended up at sim place with locke Forced to be free? 1. True freedom is not doing what you want, its living in a society that must live under gen will Western tradition 1. Different strands of thought a) Reason v emotion b) Benefits and costs of progress c) Limits and goals of politics d) Property? Natural or conventional?

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Lecture 3: 7/10/17 Monday - Revolutions, Economic and Political I. Liberal economics A. Property rights, trade, voluntary contracting II. What is heroic? A. Saint George killing a dragon (famous in english mythology) 1. Clear hero, in a suit of armor on a white horse, killing dragon to save woman 2. Trope 3. Ethos B. No longer do people grow up to become noble knights etc. 1. New bourgeoisie world - careers 2. Best of us succeed in business - money 3. Before the businessmen/merchant was not admirable, lowly petty bc not concerned with princely things a) Concerned and careful with money which makes them seem small and petty 4. Focus in enlightenment and the goal of one’s life to have a house, etc. american dream 5. Second image is of merchant in amsterdam, powerful and wealthy C. Third one is napoleon holding french flag on horse 1. Heroic through political change III. Competitive states A. The states of europe found themselves in something like a constant state of war with (each) other states B. To secure power and plenty (own safety), euro states sought to gain power over other states 1. Commerce and trade as a source of power a) Advantage in military world b) More money/resources = inc milit strength = inc safety 2. Guided by mercantilism C. Mercantilism 1. In the 17th and 18th c. econ through and practice were carried out according to principles of mercantilism 2. Economy ctrld and guided by the state in order to gain power over other states a) States sought to gain power through (1) Trade surplus (a) Trade excess goods to acquire valuable metals (b) Reserves of wealth = security/power (2) Accumulat...