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Good Governance
Cleeve House
16 June 2010
What is the purpose of government?
What is it that all human beings want?
In view of the fact that all knowledge and every pursuit aims at some good, what is the highest of all goods achievable by action? Verbally there is very general agreement; for both the general run of men and people of superior refinement it is happiness; they identify living well and doing well with being happy.
Aristotle
People are social beings
"It would be strange to represent the supremely happy man as a recluse. No one would choose to have all possible good things on the condition that he must enjoy them alone; for man is a social being and one whose nature is to live with others; accordingly the happy man must have society, for then he has everything that is naturally good."
Aristotle
How is happiness attained?
When our desires are fulfilled. Hungry -> food -> happy Missing someone -> see them ->
happiness
The problem is that . . .
Some desires are unrealistic Some desires are immature Some desires are excessive Some desires are wrong
And this leads to unhappiness
Religions all recognize this
Paul - ‘wretched man that I am’ Jeremiah - ‘heart is corrupt’ Buddhism - all suffering caused by craving ->
whole way of life based on extinguishing craving
Paradox - fulfilment of desire leads to both happiness and suffering
Desires need to be chanelled and controlled so they bring happiness and not suffering
What are the main desires people have?
Desire to eat, sleep and be warmDesire to experience loveDesire for social position or powerDesire for knowledge Desire to worship
Structures to satisfy these desires
Human desire Social system
To experience love Family
For material things Economy
For position and authority
Civil society, politics
For knowledge and skills Education
To worship Religion
What is the purpose of government?
Defence To protect a country from invasion which
would destroy a people’s way of life and prevent them from being happy
Justice To maintain the laws necessary to create a
realm of freedom so that people can live a moral and meaningful life and thus be happy and fulfilled
What is Law? System of rules that mediates the relations
between people Creates rights and obligations “The rule of law is better than the rule of any
individual” Aristotle Creates freedom
Freedom is to have a standing Rule to live by, common to every one of that Society, and made by the Legislative Power erected in it; A Liberty to follow my own Will in all things, where the Rule prescribes not; and not to be subject to the inconstant, uncertain, unknown, Arbitrary Will of another Man.
John Locke
Where does law come from?
Divine Mosaic law, Sharia
Custom and judges English Common law
Legislation Emperor Legislature
The family system
Fulfiling the desire for loving relationships
Family as the locus of meaning
Dwelling place of God - the family that prays together stays together
Spiritual life creates hope for the future
Sense of meaning Reason to live and
to multiply Shabbat prayer
Family as the school of love
Place for love between husband and wife
Reproduction and love between parents and children
Socialisation and education into the manners, customs and traditions of one’s community
Transmission of culture and the good way of life
Family and culture
“By far the most important channel of transmission of culture remains the family; and when family life fails to play its part, we must expect our culture to deteriorate.”
T.S. Elliot Notes towards the definition of culture, 1948
Family as an economic unit
Work together to create wealth to support family and community
Develop a sense of responsible ownership
Develop and realise creativity
Culture of giving and sharing
Family is the basis of society
Love
Life
Lineage
Family crimes
Adultery - chief cause of divorce and family break up
Unmarried mothers - every child has the right to a mother and a father
Child abuse and neglect Especially common among step-families
Neglect of parents and grandparents Government supplanting role of family in
education, health, welfare, finance
Role of government
Support traditional family Family and marriage law
Tax system Favour marriage and children
Inheritance Build up generational wealth and responsibility
Social security system should not subsidise unmarried mothers
Social services should be voluntary sector
The family is the basis of society
Familial collapse -> social collapse
Society more than just families
Social structures and institutions
Distinction between family and societyfamily based on affection - forgivenesssociety based on justice
Affection in social relations -> corruption (nepotism)Legalism in family relations -> destruction
Family -> society
Family expands -> small society
Affection declines as distance increases
Scarcity of goods
- selfishness/limitations to generosity
-scarcity of desirable goods
-> destructive conflict
=> Need framework of commonly accepted rules
The economic system
Fulfilling the desire for goods to be able to live a comfortable life
1. Recognition and respect
of ownership Relationship between person and things Relationship between people - property
is a social convention End of disputes - stability of possession 3rd blessing. Lord of Creation
2. Transfer of ownership Rights over goods transferred by consent
Can give things to someone Can sell things to someone
Market Place where transfer ownershp by exchange
Origin of money Convenient unit of exchange
-> division of labour and specialisation Freedom and responsibility Freedom within the law 2nd blessing - ethical relationships
3. Performance of promises
“My word is my bond” Promise keeping 1st Blessing Society as moral Self-limitation - don’t be greedy Natural rational expectations Trust people including strangers
Free trade between strangers
3 Principles of justice, 3 Blessings, 3 Laws
1. Society of owners- 3rd blessing - dominion over creation- Do not steal/misuse public money
2. Society as a market- 2nd blessing - ethical relationships- Do not have immoral sexual relations
3. Society as moral- 1st blessing - mind body unity- Do not hurt a person’s heart
Economic crimes
Theft, robbery, stealing, fraud, Denial of private property - nationalisation
without compensation; Unreasonable and punitive taxation including
taxation for social engineering such as inheritance tax
Reneging on agreements - not paying salaries, invoices,
Breaking promises
Role of government
Establish and maintain simple legal framework for free market.
Law of contract, laws against theft, fraud Maintain independent judiciary Independent central banks Limited taxation Government should not be involved in
finance or the economy. Minimise bureaucracy and corruption
Two incompatible syndromes
Commercial moral syndrome
Shun force Voluntary agreements Be honest Collaborate with strangers Compete Respect contracts Use initiative and enterprise Be open to novelty Be efficient Promote convenience Dissent for the task Invest for productivity Be industrious Be thrifty Be optimistic
Guardian moral syndrome
Shun trading Exert prowess Be obedient and disciplined Be exclusive Respect hierarchy Be loyal Adhere to tradition Treasure honour Be ostentatious Enjoy leisure Deceive to achieve task Take vengeance Show fortitude Dispense largesse Be fatalistic
Civil society
Fulfiling the desire for social position and power
Civil society
Human desire to have position in society where can make a difference, unique contribution
Multitude of institutions in civil society: Politics, businesses, charities, local government,
religion, schools, hospitals etc.
Civil society should be law governed Freedom of speech, movement, living, career Meritocracy
Crimes against civil society
Achieving position illegitimately Murder, coups Nepotism Cronyism Corruption, bribery Discrimination in public sector Totalitarianism
Role of government
Maintain an independent judiciaryMaintain roads, sewersNational defenceSafety net welfareGovernment to protect way of life and not to
engage in social engineering
Educational system
Fulfilling the desire for knowledge and understanding of the world we
are to inhabit
What is education?
Education is the transaction between the generations when children are initiated into the world which they are to inhabit
This is not just transfer of knowledge and skills
It is most fundamentally learning to perform humanly
Where does education take place?
Family Teach children how to behave To live a spiritual life How to think, not what to think or believe Skills
Swimming, gardening, house maintenance, money management etc.
School History, literature, language, religion Specialised knowledge, skills More complex thinking
Educational crimes
Failing to pass on the wisdom of the ages- treason of intellectuals
Dumbing downIndoctrinationNot graduating with qualifications and
skillsInformation without values, purpose,
meaning
Schools should be . . .
Independent - self-governing and not controlled by the state
Financed by fees, scholarships, vouchersFree to specialise and set curriculaNot for indoctrination - religious or politicalFollow public exams set by universities and
other professional bodies
Religion
To satisfy the desire to worship
Religion
Acknowledgement of a dependence on a superhuman being expressed through acts of cult - worship of God
Concerned with questions of meaning of life, right and wrong behavior, salvation
Rituals to give meaning and sanctification to rites of passage such as marriage
Religious crimes
Idolatry Mistaking the relative for the absolute
Sectarianism BigotryFundamentalism
Role of government
Allowing religious freedom Enable religious communities to be
involved in law making, education and values
Summary
Human desire
Social system
Crime
Experience love Family Adultery
Material things Economy Stealing
Position Civil society Murder
Knowledge, thinking
Education Falsehood, indoctrination
Worship Religion Idolatry