What This Document Is
This document is a shared study guide created to help students prepare for the midterm exam in Brigham Young University’s POLI 202: Western Political Heritage II course. It consolidates key concepts and definitions covered in the first half of the semester, primarily drawing from course lectures and supplemental Quizlet flashcards (links provided). It functions as a review tool, not a replacement for class attendance or assigned readings.
Why This Document Matters
This study guide is valuable for students in POLI 202 who are looking for a concentrated review of core ideas before the midterm. It’s most useful when used *in conjunction with* lecture notes and the original course materials. The guide exists to help students identify important themes and terminology, and to begin formulating potential essay responses. It’s particularly helpful for students who benefit from seeing concepts summarized and defined in a concise format.
Common Limitations or Challenges
It’s important to understand that this is a *study* guide, not a comprehensive list of everything that will be on the exam. The creators explicitly state it’s not fair to students who consistently attend class if the guide were to be exhaustive. There’s no guarantee that material on the study guide will appear on the test, and vice versa. The guide also notes that essay questions near the end are incomplete and require further student work.
What This Document Provides
This study guide includes:
* Definitions of key political concepts like argument, premise, validity, and soundness.
* Detailed explanations of core concepts from Thomas Hobbes’s political philosophy, including his views on motion, appetites, aversions, good/evil, glory, confidence, felicity, the state of nature, and the state of war.
* An overview of the Prisoner’s Dilemma and its relevance to Hobbes’s theories.
* Identification of the “Three Equalizers” in the State of Nature (Strength, Prudence, Ability).
* Links to associated Quizlet flashcards for further review.
This preview does *not* include complete answers to potential essay questions, nor does it cover all nuances of the course material. It does not substitute for attending lectures or completing assigned readings.