7.5 Conclusions:  Thoughtful Politics

It is not too much to say that politics has been driven by philosophy throughout the centuries. Political movements with no philosophical justification struggle to survive. The will of the people must be supported by critical thinking about the nature of government and justice.  Political theory is not something preordained.  It derives from intelligent thinking and debating.  In this chapter, we’ve explored some of that thinking. Hopefully, the ideas we’ve encountered here will help you clarify your own political beliefs and better defend them when in conversations with others.