Philosophy Stack Exchange
Philosophy Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [state]

26 questions
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5 answers

If we value free agency, how can punishment - the state's deprivation of a person's free agency - be justified ?

Starting with the supposition that we want to allow humans free agency, insofar as it does not infringe upon the free agency of others, what punishments can a state impose that do not make it guilty of the same infringement? In other words, is it…
lathomas64
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How can a nation be legitimized in declaring sovereignty over newborns?

Suppose a child is born. In the entire world, that person will inherit his parent's nationality, hence, becoming citizen of a certain country. (Or two countries, in specific cases.) That means that he or she will be subject, with due age…
max0005
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Concepts of state and transition as used by Kierkegaard

While reading Søren Kierkegaard's "The Concept of Anxiety", I asked myself how much of the temporal interpretation of dialectic and the interaction between state and transition (leap) are original to Kierkegaard. I know that Kierkegaard understood…
Thomas Klimpel
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Do people have the right to split off part of a sovereign state?

On one hand we have sovereign nation states with stable, recognised borders. On the other hand there can be groups of people inside them that want to split off to become independent, or join a neighbouring country. I can feel sympathy for both…
Jeroen Kransen
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What does Marxism envision as the role of the state in the economy?

According to Marx, in capitalism, what role does the state play? Is it independent of the economy? Also, does the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie, have anything to do with the state or government?
user1577
4
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3 answers

Could a State be considered as a huge famlly?

The members of a State are alledgedly supposed to form a national community, to have a shared identity. The ancient generations of a nation are referred to as the " fathers". A patriot is attached to the " land of the fathers" ( " pater" in latin).…
Floridus Floridi
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What was the Bakunin/Marx argument and split about?

In 1868, Bakunin joined the International Workingmen's Association, leading the anarchist faction to rapidly grow in influence. The 1872 Hague Congress was dominated by a struggle between Bakunin and Marx, who was a key figure in the General…
user66760
3
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3 answers

If I know something, should I feel as though I have absolute certainty as to that thing?

I've been trying to wrap my head around the justified true belief analysis of knowledge along with the fallibly justified, true belief analysis of knowledge; and there is something that keeps bothering me with the analyses. The matter that keeps…
Dennis Francis Blewett
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Difference between mental states and mental events?

What is the main difference between mental states and mental events in philosophy of mind? I heard from a lecturer that mental events are those entities which occur instantly or in short period of time such as a headache but mental states are more…
Arian
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Couple of questions on Bernard Bolzano's philosophy of state

I read a summary of Bolzano's political views and his philosophy of the "best" state, and I have 3 questions - A) was Bolzano heavily influenced by the USA? His line of thought for some of his ideas seems very similar in mind to (at least the…
Yechiam Weiss
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Education of civil servants

I was wondering what would happen, if we required the people who serve in top positions in a democracy (president...) to go through a dedicated school, that would be free for anyone who wants to enroll, and exclusively based on merit, run by the…
Frank
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How much can investigating three nested systems help interpreting probabilistic theories?

Many attempts to interpret quantum mechanics do so by looking at three nested systems. The largest system is essentially the universe or the environment. The smallest system is the one being observed and following the laws of the theory, and the…
Thomas Klimpel
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How and who rebuilds the state after a revolution?

How and who rebuilds the state after a revolution? I frequent "revolutionary" discussion, and am surprised (almost afraid) by how little this comes up. They all want to smash the existing capitalist state a new world from the ashes of the old But…
user57755
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2 answers

Is there any agreement on what makes a state "state"?

Is there any agreement on what makes a state "state"? Is it de facto tax collection (especially, customs)? Is it the number of general-residents ("permanent-residents") in a given place?
variableism
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Is a nation state morally obliged at all times to put its own citizens' interests before every other person's?

Is a nation state morally obliged at all times to put its own citizens' interests before every other person's? it may sound odd to ask about obligation as it applies to a state, as they themselves are not a person or capable of individual action.…
user50752
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