The Village… Is there a need for government?

Motivation Imagine what life might be like in a state of nature. Think what our lives would be like if there were no rules. Think what would happen if the government just disappeared… You are starting a government. Set up a government with yoru group; include all structures and organization that you believe you will need to run a successful government. Describe the goals of your government. There are no parameters except for those listed above!

Guiding Questions Hierarchy of leadership/lack there of. What services would your government provide for the people? Your relationship with other regions… Goals of your government… What type of economy will all for the greatest development for your government and its people? Who will vote? How will order be maintained? Which domestic policies should be given priority?

How would you compare these statements of Locke and Hobbes? “All humans are naturally selfish and wicked. That is why the only way to create government…is to give all the power and strength to one man…men will give up the right of governing oneself to this man.” --Thomas Hobbes “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which drives everyone: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind…that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent (all powerful), and infinitely wise maker.” (adapted from J. Locke)

AIM: Do we need government? Vocab Hobbes Locke Government – a law making institution State of Nature – existence without government or agreed upon boundaries/laws. Law of Nature – the law that governs the state of nature; giving people reason that they are all equal and independent, and ought to not harm one another. The flaw? Your rights are tenuous (at risk)… Natural Rights – Enlightenment philosopher, John Locke, said all humans are born with the natural rights of life, liberty, and property; and the function of government was to protect such rights. Social Contract – Agreement to live in a society with certain regulations.

How does Locke convince us to give up our liberties and join a government? “If man in the state of nature…be absolute lord of his own person and possessions equal to the greatest and subject to nobody, why will he part with his freedom, his empire, and subject himself to the authority and control of any other power? It is obvious to answer that though in the state of nature he hath such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain and constantly exposed to the invasion of others…the enjoyment of property he has in this state is very unsafe, very insecure, very dangerous.” - J. Locke

Why do we trust people to follow the rules of this new government they have joined? “All men may be retrained from invading others rights, and from doing hurt to one another, and the law of nature be observed…preservation of all mankind, the execution of the law of nature is, in that state, put into every man’s hands…[the] right to punish the transgressors of the law (law breakers)…”

Why do we trust people to follow the rules of this new government they have joined?  They have entered the government by consent.  There are consequences for breaking the rules the government has set up (“punishments for transgressors”)

Paine “But as the Colony (community/government) increases, the public concerns will increase likewise, and the distance at which the members may be separated, will render it too inconvenient for all of them to meet on every occasion as at first, when their number was small, their habitations near, and the public concerns few and trifling.”

Social Contract Each men’s power and freedom are his main means of self-preservation. How is he to put them under the control of others without damaging himself…? The social contract’s terms, when they are well understood, can be reduced to a single part: the individual member surrenders himself totally to the whole community together with all his rights. Duty and interest equally require the two contracting parties to aid each other mutually. The individual people should be motivated from their double roles as individuals and members of the community, to combine all the advantages which mutual relationships offer them. In reality, each individual may have one particular will as a man that is different from or contrary to (against) the general wishes that he and the rest of the people have as citizens in the community…He may also regard the Government as an imaginary being since it is not a single man, and wish to enjoy the rights of a citizen without performing the duties of a citizen (member of the community). This is unfair and could cause the ruin of the entire government/community if all men felt this way and acted on that feeling.

Scenarios #1: Yesterday a student from Murrow said she was going to make a speech in the auditorium during D-Band, criticizing the teachers and staff here at the school. Later that afternoon, the student was told that if he made the speech she would be expelled from the school. What would both Locke and Hobbes do in this scenario? (Use evidence from the documents to answer the question).

#2: We are coming close to a gubernatorial election… 1. Who would Locke vote for? Why? 2. Who would Hobbes vote for? Why? CADIDATE ACANDIDATE B encourages people to evaluate their government believes in strict laws and punishment accepts free speechwants total control over the country believes in democratic principles against free speech and independence wants to put more money into space exploration and science feels that one person should make all of the decisions

#3: DAILY NEWS Headlines: Paris Hilton released on Drunk Driving Charges Unemployed Man in Canarsie Sentence to 15 Years on Drunk Driving Charges What would Locke and Hobbes say about the above headlines?