Philosophies

Totalitarian: (total power) is a concept used to describe political systems whereby a state regulates nearly every aspect of public and private life. Usually uses fear tactics, propaganda/ mass- media, and mass-surveillance Examples: Nazis Germany, Soviet Union (Stalin)

Authoritarian: describes a form of government characterized by an emphasis on the authority of the state in a republic or union. It is a political system controlled by nonelected rulers who usually permit some degree of individual freedom. -Self appointed leaders -No guarantee of civil liberties -No questioning of authorities Example: Cuba in the 1950’s, Catholic church

Tyrant: is a single ruler holding absolute power over a state or within an organization. Examples: Roman (Julius Caesar) and Greek rulers

Remembering History… What was the Revolutionary War? Why did it occur? Why did we want to change the government?

The Enlightenment The Age of Enlightenment was a time in 18th Century when people began to use their reason to discover the world and question their rights as citizens Many people were living under tyrants, monarchs, dictators and other forms of autocratic control. These people began to wonder if they should have more rights…. natural rights….

Philosopher Immanuel Kant said it best… “Dare to Think!”

Many philosophers during this period began to have new ideas as to how people should be governed and/or treated…

Philosophers that influenced Thomas Jefferson and the ideals of the Founding Fathers… John Locke was born Feb 29, 1632 He was a British philosopher He mainly focused on opposition to authoritarianism Locke wanted each person to use reason to search after truth rather than simply accept the opinion of authorities or be subject to superstition.

Ideas of John Locke Natural Rights: are rights which are not contingent upon the laws, customs, or beliefs of a particular society or polity. There rights come from being in a “state of nature”; a state of equality and consideration for others’ rights Example: “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

Ideas of John Locke Social Contract: the best way to protect each person’s natural rights so all people can enjoy them and live at peace with one another. Individuals must agree with others to create and live under a government and give that government the power to make and enforce laws. In other words, laws and rules are “mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon"

Ideas of John Locke If the Social Contract is broken… The Right to Revolution: since the people give the power to the government, they have the right to take it away if the government is not serving the purpose for which it was established.

“Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others “Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others . . . Good and evil, reward and punishment, are the only motives to a rational creature.” “Man . . . hath by nature a power . . . to preserve his property – that is, his life, liberty, and estate - against the injuries and attempts of other men .” “All mankind . . . being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.”

Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes was born April 5, 1588 An English philosopher He believed that an absolute monarch could best keep the “social contract”. People could not be trusted with their own power. They were naturally wicked.

Ideas of Thomas Hobbes His idea of “state of nature” is a society without a government. This state is when a person has a right to anything in the world. In this “state of nature”, Hobbs believed it would inevitably lead to war He believed that people need to be lead by a sovereign (or person to decide social and political issues) to avoid natural brutish actions of people.

“During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man.” – Thomas Hobbes

“If all men were angels, no government would be necessary” -Federalist 51