DO NOW If you were to start your own school, would you create a school with lots of rules or very few? Why? Explain your answer.

9/20 104: Theories of Power

Who are these guys? John Locke Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes [Background] Hobbes was a writer in England during the 1600s He lived during the English Civil War when the government was changing

Thomas Hobbes Hobbes wrote the Leviathan to argue that we need a strong government to keep order.

Thomas Hobbes Hobbes thought that without a strong government, there would be chaos He said the state of nature was “a war of all against all” because he thought people were selfish and violent

John Locke Locke believed that people were smart enough to know right from wrong, even without rules He said government shouldn’t be too powerful and we should still have freedom

John Locke Locke believed that people have natural rights -- rights all people are born with He worried that strong governments might abuse their power and deny our rights Before going to game, play Kanye’s Power and/or Dead Prez’s Police State (1 minute of each for activity). Then let one song play for a musical writing response on the back of the Hand Out.

WWHD What Would Hobbes Do?

WWHD? OR Why?

WWHD? OR Why?

The Dark Knight What does the Joker assume about human nature? What does Batman believe? What do you think will happen (if you haven’t already seen it)? Please don’t spoil the ending.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4GAQtGtd_0

Leviathan (answer in notebook) What was the state of nature like according to Hobbes? How might the context that Hobbes lived in have influenced his ideas about the state of nature? What are the best and worst things about the political philosophy of Hobbes?

Two Treatises on Government (answer in notebook) What is the state of nature like according to Locke? According to Locke, who should have the ability to enforce the laws of nature? What are the best and worst things about the political philosophy of Hobbes?

How do the states of nature of Hobbes and Locke compare? How are the laws enforced in each philosophy? What are the best and worst things about each political philosophy?