…we’ve already had this discussion

Thomas Hobbes & John Locke INTRODUCTION Who were these dudes? “HOW DOES SOCIETY DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF DISORDER & CHAOS?” (human nature, structure of gov’t, GOOD gov’t) * BOTH were post-English Revolution PHILOSOPHERS who were particularly concerned with three different topics: 1.) What are humans like in their STATE OF NATURE? Why would they “create” government? 2.) What is the PURPOSE/ROLE OF GOVERNMENT? * 3.) HOW/SHOULD government REPRESENT THE PEOPLE? * (BOTH had a HUGE influence on the American FOUNDING FATHERS) John Locke (1632–1704) Although John Locke died long before the American Revolution, his work was a major source of ideas for the founders of the United States. A British philosopher and doctor, Locke would produce work that would become the inspiration for the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the U.S. government. Locke was born on August 29, 1632, in England. Through his father’s military connections, he was able to attend Westminster in London, followed by Christ Church, Oxford, two important schools in England. Among other subjects, Locke studied medicine. In 1666, he met Anthony Ashley Cooper, who would become the Earl of Shaftesbury. They became close friends, and Locke became the man’s family doctor. Locke and Shaftesbury shared similar political views. In 1667, Locke wrote an important philosophical essay titled “An Essay on Human Understanding.” In it, he reasoned that when we are born, our minds are tabula rasa, Latin for “a blank slate.” This term means that people do not enter the world with ideas and beliefs already fixed in their minds, but they have to learn them. In 1690, Locke wrote Two Treatises of Civil Government. In this work, Locke argued that people have natural rights and freedoms. They are not born to be ruled. He believed that the monarch held power as one side in a “social contract” with the people. In turn, the people pledged their loyalty in exchange for stable government and security. Locke believed that people had the right to own property and that the government had no right to take it away. Most important, he explained that people had the right to remove a ruler if the ruler did not fulfill his or her part of the “contract.” Thomas Jefferson would later restate many of Locke’s ideas in the Declaration of Independence. From 1689 to 1692, Locke wrote A Letter Concerning Toleration, in which he called for freedom of religion, except when that religion was a threat to public order. He felt this tolerance should apply not to atheists and Catholics but to different groups of Protestants. Locke died on October 24, 1704, in Essex, England. HOBBES – English philosopher … known for LEVIATHAN (1651) LOCKE – English philosopher … known for TWO TREATISES ON GOVERNMENT (1689) – argued AGAINST ABSOLUTE RULE!

The State of Nature & NATURAL RIGHTS STATE OF NATURE: stateless society, pre-government; all individuals have the ability to do anything that they want, ultimate freedom! NATURAL RIGHTS: inalienable rights; NOT granted by the government Life Everyone is entitled to LIVE once they are created. Liberty Everyone is entitled to do anything they want to so long as it doesn't conflict with another’s right to life. Property Everyone is entitled to own all they create or gain through gift or trade so long as it doesn't conflict with another’s right to life & liberty! …ENLIGHTENMENT ideas of Locke would go on to influence AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARIES as well as the FRAMERS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION!

PRIMARY DOCUMENT 1.) What is Hobbes’ view on the STATE OF NATURE? EVIDENCE from text… 2.) For Hobbes, what is the PURPOSE OF GOVT? EVIDENCE from text… Hobbes says that the “CONDITION OF MAN” is one in which “every one is governed by his own reason.” 3.) WHAT DO YOU THINK HOBBES IS PROPOSING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CONDITION OF MAN? EVIDENCE from text…

2.) …the terms OMNIPOTENT, MAKER & SOVEREIGN MASTER refer to what? PRIMARY DOCUMENT 1.) What does Locke claim is the source for the idea of the right to LIFE, HEALTH, LIBERTY or POSSESSIONS? EVIDENCE from text? 2.) …the terms OMNIPOTENT, MAKER & SOVEREIGN MASTER refer to what? 3.) Under what condition does Locke say it is JUSTIFIED to take away another person’s life, liberty, or property? EVIDENCE from text?

SOCIAL CONTRACT THOMAS HOBBES JOHN LOCKE “STATE OF NATURE” HUMANS? WHY did people create govt? …or, leave the ‘SON’ What was PROCESS called? …of creating civil society, gov’t PRIMARY PURPOSE OF GOVT ***** Which TYPE of govt is best? Relative peace, freedom … Conflict is inevitable! State of War! Inherently BAD, selfish/greedy Tabula rasa Natural Rights would inevitably be infringed upon State of War; conflict & harm. SOCIAL CONTRACT PROTECT humans from one another; chaos & disorder Secure NATURAL RIGHTS Absolute Monarchy… NOT VOLUNTARY! Representative Gov’t… VOLUNTARY! “The life of man is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Thomas Hobbes & John Locke …& the process behind the Social Contract Humans exist in the STATE OF NATURE NATURAL RIGHTS Infringed… Individuals Come Together… Enter into the SOCIAL CONTRACT …with philosophical differences between Locke & Hobbes …give up SOME rights for the protection of others! CREATE CIVIL SOCIETY

Hobbes, Locke & Rousseau WHAT TYPE OF GOV’T IS IDEAL FOR ROUSSEAU? The Social Contract Hobbes, Locke & Rousseau * The Social Contract (1762) …the ‘best way in which to set up a government in the face of the problems throughout society…’ * INSPIRED POLITICAL REFORMS IN EUROPE – (WHY? …ar gued against the idea that monarchs had the DIVINE RIGHT to govern) With the famous phrase, "man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains," Rousseau asserts that modern states repress the physical freedom that is our birthright, and do nothing to secure the civil freedom for the sake of which we enter into civil society. Legitimate political authority, he suggests, comes only from a social contract agreed upon by all citizens for their mutual preservation… When it was first published in 1762, The Social Contract was met with outrage and censorship. Rousseau became a wanted man both in France and in his native Geneva. However, thirty-two years later, in 1794, after the ##French Revolution## his remains were transported to the Pantheon in Paris and he was buried as a national hero. The Social Contract was the foremost influence on the intellectual development of the French Revolution, and that stormy period in history is our best example of Rousseau's ideas put into practice. It is not fair to blame the Reign of Terror and the many disasters of the Revolution on Rousseau, but his influence was certainly felt throughout… WHAT TYPE OF GOV’T IS IDEAL FOR ROUSSEAU? …THE PEOPLE ARE THE SOVEREIGN! POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY “…man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains.”

1.) Find examples of Locke’s NATURAL RIGHTS in the “DoI” 2.) Find examples of Locke’s ideas on the ROLE OF GOVT 3.) Find examples of the SOCIAL CONTRACT in the “DoI” 4.) Find examples of Locke’s “RIGHT TO REVOLT.” 5.) “…IT IS THEIR RIGHT, IT IS THEIR DUTY” to do what? WHY?

Thomas Hobbes & John Locke – “Who Would Agree?” A mini-quiz! “There are no laws in the state of nature & people are constantly at war with one another.” “Gov’t is needed to create laws, protect people & provide basic services for society.” “Gov’t exists to protect the life, liberty & private property of individuals throughout society.” “A ruler should be an individual who has complete power & should not be overthrown if society is unhappy.” “The only legitimate gov’t is one that fully represents the best interests of society.” “If a gov’t fails to accurately represent the people, the people have the right to overthrow & ‘reset’ that gov’t.” “A single sovereign is the best form of gov’t for protection of the individual.” “Gov’ts must be designed to protect the people from themselves.” “Gov’ts must secure the Natural Rights that were given to them by God.”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Human Development & the ‘Social Contract’ * Emile, or On Education (1762) – a TREATISE/novel on the education of the “natural man” – FOSTER human development! * In Emile, he argued: 1.) EMOTION & REASON were important to human development – sought a balance between emotion & reason 2.) Women are naturally different from men (educate women for roles as wives & mothers) – learn obedience & the skills necessary to provide loving care for husbands & children…