Given the context of hate activity that you yourself have witnessed, then maybe you were exaggerating when you said, in regard to some posts on CC, “I have never witnessed such hatred.” Right?
I am not trying to pick a fight with you. Instead, I am trying (however artfully or inartfully) to make the point that there is a broad range of civil discourse and that political criticisms (as opposed to name-calling), however strongly worded, are within that range. When you disagree with someone’s ideas, the best response is to answer them, not to call them expressions of “hatred.” As John Stuart Mills and other political theorists have argued, democracy depends on democratic discourse, discourse that is often lively and contentious and must be based on rational arguments and evidence. That sort of democratic argument is at variance with authoritarianism of all stripes. Given your interest in Zimbardo and the psychology of authoritarianism, you may want to explore western thinking on the meanings and practices of liberty, authority, and democracy. If you have a chance to take a class on political philosophy or political psychology, I think it would enhance your education and your interests.
I will take a political philosophy course in my senior year with the only professor that teaches it and has a Ph.D from Harvard (and was on the press junket to promote his book). However, his class is set up in the way that classes like Con Law, Crim Pro in law school are setup i.e. one midterm and one final determines your grade. It’s an interesting class, however, I do not want my GPA to drop if my aspirations of getting into a med school continues. (Also, I’m not really interested in law and I’ve read some books about Contracts, Crim Pro, Con Law, and Torts and they bore me to tears.).
You’re at Michigan State, right? If so, I count four professors who teach political philosophy which, by the way, is not the same as law. (And I agree, law texts are boring.) If you take one or more classes in political thought, you could read works by Thucydides, Aristotle, Augustine, Rawls, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mills, Tocqueville, Arendt.
As the Michigan State pol sci department notes, part of its mission is “Providing a broad liberal education to Michigan State undergraduates to prepare them for future roles as citizens and professionals.” In my humble opinion, if you want to be able to argue well about citizens and leaders in contemporary American democracy, you would be well-served by the deep understanding of these issues that comes from studying the core texts of the western political tradition. America’s revolution is Lockean at its core and the American founding cannot really be understood without knowing Locke. Yes, you can know facts about the military battles and the founders, but not the philosophical basis, particularly its understanding of authority, rebellion, order, dissent, constitutionalism and civic life. Take the plunge - You’ll find yourself to be a better doctor and American citizen. And, you know what, medical schools want candidates who are well-rounded in their education.
My mistake, the professor I’ve heard the most about from students is Dr. Jerry Weinberger. I have not heard anyone mention any other professors. It is impossible to know every professor from a specific department, especially when your major is not in that department.
Yes, I am familiar with Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Kant, Sartre and many others. (I have taken a AP European History course). I also have read The Prince and other works from the philosophers I have mentioned.
And, are you CC stalking me or something because you are tracking down my posts (you wouldn’t know what university I attended if you didn’t track me down) and then inform me about MSU’s poli sci department (I’m more familiar with the University of Michigan’s poli sci department, but I do have very good friends who are in the James Madison college of MSU)?
If you would like, PM me about all of this, since I have a feeling that my thread will be deleted (this has nothing to do with community and forum issues) or better yet email me. (You’ll definitely get a hold of me via email).
Being familiar with Locke, etc. in an AP history class is not the same as reading him in a course, while guided through the text and taught by a political theorist.
And, I’m sure you know, people at CC regularly take a look at past posts. I’ve had my own quoted to me and have seen people mention old ones, and I had no clue that this was considered stalking. I certainly did not mean to be offensive. I remembered you were at a large research university and thought I remembered which one it was and thought it would be helpful to provide you that information about political theorists at your institution. My regrets if you took offense or if it is considered inappropriate.
By the way, what do you think of Machiavelli? What do you think of the common tendency to apply his views of politics and political leadership to contemporary issues?
I know that Locke and the like aren’t dicussed as in depth like a political philosophy course, however I have read the books (I can’t remember everything I’ve read, since it was awhile ago but I know basic concepts).
The stalking thing…I was kidding about that and I should’ve put a 
next to it. I’m sorry and I didn’t think you were offensive. I was just a little startled by it.
I think Machiavelli’s concepts are reinforced today by politicians, competitive students in weeder classes aka “gunners”, and even in reality shows. And in a sense, his ideals are correct. If you want to be a successful Prince (or get ahead), you have to use certain tactics (pitting two friendly people against each other) in order to get to the top. It is cruel, however, it is human nature and that cannot be avoided. I know that he dedicated this to one of the Medici’s to unify Italy, however, it didn’t happen.
I don’t remember <em>too</em> much about Machiavelli (science is my favorite subject), but I know enough to be taken seriously (not associating Machievelli with Tupac Shakur).
I hope I answered your question (I’m in a bit of a rush).
people are idiots in general. That’s why capitalism rocks! “money money… MONEY!” j/k 