Free Printable Worksheets for learning Political philosophy at the College level

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Political Philosophy Info Sheet

Key Concepts

State of Nature: A hypothetical scenario where individuals live without government or society.
Social Contract Theory: The idea that individuals agree to give up some freedoms in exchange for protection and benefits from the state.
Legitimacy: The quality of being accepted as an authority or government.
Justice: The concept of fairness and the distribution of benefits and burdens in society.
Democracy: A type of government where the power is held by the people either directly or through elected representatives.
Liberalism: A political ideology that emphasizes individual rights, freedoms, and equality.
Communism: A political ideology that advocates for collective ownership of property and the means of production.

Important Thinkers

Thomas Hobbes: A social contract theorist who believed that humans were naturally selfish and violent, and that a strong central government was necessary to maintain order.
John Locke: A social contract theorist who believed that individuals had natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that governments existed to protect these rights.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: A philosopher who believed that individuals were naturally good, but society corrupted them, and that a social contract should exist between citizens themselves, rather than with a government.
Karl Marx: A philosopher who developed the theory of communism, which emphasized the importance of collective ownership and the elimination of class divisions.

Important Documents

The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes: A book that presents Hobbes' social contract theory to argue for the necessity of a strong central government.
Two Treatises of Government by John Locke: A book that presents Locke's social contract theory to argue for the importance of individual rights and limited government.
The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau: A book that presents Rousseau's theory of society as a contract between citizens, rather than with a government.
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels: A political pamphlet that presents the principles of communism and the need for a proletarian revolution to overthrow the capitalist system.

Takeaways

Political philosophy explores the nature of governments, societies, and individuals, and the relationships between them.
Key concepts include the state of nature, social contract theory, legitimacy, justice, democracy, liberalism, and communism.
Important thinkers include Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx.
Important documents include The Leviathan, Two Treatises of Government, The Social Contract, and The Communist Manifesto.
Understanding political philosophy requires critical thinking skills and an ability to evaluate different theories and perspectives.

Here's some sample Political philosophy vocabulary lists Sign in to generate your own vocabulary list worksheet.

Word	Definition
Sovereignty	Supreme power or authority
Totalitarianism	A system of government that is centralized and dictatorial
Democracy	A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives
Libertarianism	A political philosophy that upholds liberty as the principal objective
Republic	A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives
Fascism	A political philosophy characterized by authoritarianism
Autonomy	The right or condition of self-government
Communism	A political theory derived from Karl Marx advocating class war and leading to a society
Diplomacy	The art of dealing with people in a sensitive and effective way
Anarchy	A state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority
Bureaucracy	A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives
Conservatism	A political philosophy that favors traditional values and gradual change over upheaval and radicalism
Federalism	A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units
Globalization	The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale
Imperialism	A policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means
Nationalism	Identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations
Patriotism	Devotion to and vigorous support for one's country
Plutocracy	A society ruled or controlled by the wealthy
Socialism	A political and economic theory advocating for common ownership of the means of production
Theocracy	A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god

Here's some sample Political philosophy study guides Sign in to generate your own study guide worksheet.

Political Philosophy Study Guide

Introduction

Define political philosophy
Explain the importance of studying political philosophy
Provide an overview of the major themes and concepts in political philosophy

Theories of Political Philosophy

Compare and contrast the major theories of political philosophy (liberalism, conservatism, socialism, libertarianism, feminism, etc.)
Explain how each theory views the role of the state in society
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each theory

Justice and Equality

Define justice and equality in the context of political philosophy
Compare and contrast the different theories of justice (utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, etc.)
Analyze the role of justice and equality in different political systems (democracy, dictatorship, etc.)

Democracy

Define democracy and its different forms (representative, direct, deliberative, etc.)
Explain the importance of democracy in political philosophy
Discuss the challenges and criticisms of democratic systems

Power and Authority

Define power and authority in political philosophy
Analyze the different sources of political power (e.g., legal, economic, cultural, etc.)
Discuss the legitimation of political authority (e.g., consent of the governed, divine right, etc.)

Global Political Philosophy

Explain the concept of global political philosophy
Analyze the different theories of global justice (e.g., cosmopolitanism, global distributive justice, etc.)
Evaluate the role of the international community in promoting global justice and human rights

Conclusion

Summarize the major themes and concepts in political philosophy
Discuss the relevance of political philosophy to contemporary issues and challenges
Provide recommendations for further study and research in political philosophy.

Here's some sample Political philosophy practice sheets Sign in to generate your own practice sheet worksheet.

Practice Sheet for Political Philosophy

Instructions: Read each prompt carefully and write a complete and thoughtful response. Your answer should be at least two paragraphs in length and demonstrate a clear understanding of the concepts discussed in class.

What does it mean for a government to be just? Discuss at least two different theories of justice and explain how they might apply to political philosophy.
The social contract has been a central concept in political philosophy for centuries. Explain the social contract theory and describe how it has influenced political thought.
What is the role of the state in ensuring the well-being of its citizens? Discuss at least two different views on the role of the state and provide examples to support your argument.
In a democracy, should individual rights always take priority over the will of the majority? Discuss the concept of majority rule and how it relates to individual rights.
What is the difference between positive and negative rights? Give an example of each and explain how they might apply in a political context.
How does the concept of power relate to political philosophy? Discuss at least two different views on power and its role in government.
Discuss the concept of equality and how it applies to political philosophy. Can perfect equality ever be achieved in society?
Feminist political theory challenges traditional ideas about power and authority in society. Discuss some of the key ideas of feminist political theory and how they have influenced political philosophy.
What is the role of civil disobedience in political philosophy? Do individuals have a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws?
The concept of individualism has played an important role in political philosophy. Discuss some of the key ideas of individualism and how they have influenced political thought.

Sample Problem:

What is the difference between a political philosophy and a political ideology?

Answer:

Political philosophy is the study of ideas and theories about the purpose, organization, and nature of government and politics. It involves the analysis of political ideas, values, and beliefs. It seeks to understand the underlying principles of political systems and to evaluate their implications for individuals and society.

Political ideology, on the other hand, is a set of beliefs and values that are shared by a group of people. It is a set of ideas and ideals that guide the actions of a political group or individual. Political ideologies are usually based on a set of core beliefs, such as the importance of democracy, individual rights, and economic freedom.

Practice Sheet:

What is the concept of the social contract?
What are the main components of a liberal democracy?
What is the difference between a monarchy and an oligarchy?
What is the purpose of the separation of powers in a government?
What is the concept of the rule of law?
What is the relationship between individual rights and the government?
What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?
What is the purpose of a constitution?
What is the concept of limited government?
What is the difference between a federal government and a unitary government?

Political Philosophy Practice Sheet

Explain the concept of the social contract theory.
Describe the differences between liberalism and conservatism.
What is the difference between a utilitarian and a deontological approach to political ethics?
How does the concept of the general will differ from the will of all?
What is the significance of the concept of sovereignty in political philosophy?
What is the relationship between justice and fairness?
Explain the concept of the right of revolution and how it has been applied in political thought.
What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?
How does the concept of the separation of powers help to ensure a healthy democratic system?
How has the concept of natural rights been used to support various political philosophies?

Here's some sample Political philosophy quizzes Sign in to generate your own quiz worksheet.

Problem	Answer
What is the social contract theory according to Thomas Hobbes?	Individuals must surrender their individual rights to the sovereign in exchange for protection and security.
According to John Locke's social contract theory, what is the purpose of government?	The government is responsible for protecting the natural rights of the people, including life, liberty, and property.
According to Aristotle, what is the best form of government?	The best form of government is a mixed constitution that combines elements of democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy.
Explain the difference between negative and positive rights	Negative rights are freedoms that require inaction from others, while positive rights are entitlements that require action from others.
According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, what is the general will?	The general will represents the common interest of the people as a whole, and should be the basis for any legitimate government.
What is the difference between libertarianism and socialism?	Libertarianism emphasizes individual freedom, limited government, and free-market capitalism, while socialism emphasizes collective ownership of the means of production and centralized economic planning.
What does the term justice as fairness mean according to John Rawls?	Justice as fairness means that a society is just when all individuals have equal basic rights, equal opportunities, and social and economic inequalities are arranged so that they benefit the least advantaged.
Explain the idea of the invisible hand in Adam Smith's political philosophy.	The invisible hand refers to the idea that individuals acting in their own self-interest in a free market will unintentionally benefit the overall welfare of society as a whole.
What is the significance of Karl Marx's dictatorship of the proletariat?	The dictatorship of the proletariat is a transitional phase between capitalism and communism, where the working class seizes control of the means of production and establishes a proletarian state to pave the way for a classless society.
In what way does feminist political philosophy challenge traditional political theory?	Feminist political philosophy challenges traditional political theory by exposing and critiquing the ways in which traditional theory has been male-centric and has ignored or marginalized women's experiences and perspectives.

Political Philosophy Quiz

Problem	Answer
What is the definition of political philosophy?	Political philosophy is the study of the concepts and principles that underlie political life, including the nature of justice, liberty, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of laws by government.
What is the difference between political philosophy and political science?	Political philosophy is concerned with the theoretical foundations of politics, while political science is concerned with the empirical study of politics.
What is the central question of political philosophy?	The central question of political philosophy is: what is the best form of government?
What are the two main branches of political philosophy?	The two main branches of political philosophy are normative political philosophy and analytical political philosophy.
What is the purpose of normative political philosophy?	The purpose of normative political philosophy is to develop a set of principles or values to guide political decision-making.
What is the purpose of analytical political philosophy?	The purpose of analytical political philosophy is to analyze and evaluate existing political systems and institutions.
What is the difference between liberalism and conservatism?	Liberalism emphasizes individual rights and freedoms, while conservatism emphasizes tradition and order.
What is the difference between anarchism and libertarianism?	Anarchism is a political philosophy that rejects all forms of government, while libertarianism is a political philosophy that advocates limited government and individual freedom.
What is the difference between socialism and communism?	Socialism is a political philosophy that advocates for the collective ownership of the means of production, while communism is a political philosophy that advocates for the abolition of private property and the establishment of a classless society.
What is the difference between utilitarianism and deontology?	Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the greatest good for the greatest number, while deontology is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the importance of following moral rules regardless of consequences.

Political Philosophy Quiz

Question	Answer
What is the difference between liberalism and conservatism?	Liberalism is a political philosophy that emphasizes individual rights, liberty, free markets, and limited government intervention. Conservatism is a political philosophy that emphasizes traditional values, limited government, and free markets.
What are the three main components of the social contract theory?	The three main components of the social contract theory are: 1) the mutual agreement between individuals to form a society in order to protect their rights and interests; 2) the creation of a government to enforce the terms of the social contract; and 3) the obligation of the citizens to obey the laws of the government.
What is the difference between utilitarianism and deontology?	Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Deontology is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the importance of following a set of moral rules or duties regardless of the consequences.
What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?	Direct democracy is a system of government in which citizens directly participate in the decision-making process. Representative democracy is a system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
What is the difference between communism and socialism?	Communism is an economic system that seeks to eliminate private property and promote collective ownership of the means of production. Socialism is an economic system that seeks to promote economic equality through the redistribution of wealth and the provision of social services.
What is the difference between anarchism and libertarianism?	Anarchism is a political philosophy that advocates for the abolition of government and the establishment of a society based on voluntary cooperation. Libertarianism is a political philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, free markets, and limited government intervention.
What is the difference between liberalism and libertarianism?	Liberalism is a political philosophy that emphasizes individual rights, liberty, free markets, and limited government intervention. Libertarianism is a political philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, free markets, and limited government intervention.
What is the difference between realism and idealism in international relations?	Realism is a school of thought in international relations that emphasizes the importance of power and the pursuit of self-interest in international affairs. Idealism is a school of thought in international relations that emphasizes the importance of morality and cooperation in international affairs.
What is the difference between the rule of law and the rule of man?	The rule of law is a principle of governance in which laws are applied equally to all citizens and are enforced by an independent judiciary. The rule of man is a system of governance in which laws are applied arbitrarily and are enforced by individuals in power.
What is the difference between utilitarianism and virtue ethics?	Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Virtue ethics is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the importance of developing and following moral virtues.