A new way of thinking!!!

King James I The Absolute Monarch

King James I - Stuart Family King of England from 1603–1625 Proclaimed the Divine Right of Kings Theory Kings are Chosen by God Born with Power Kings are only accountable to God, not to any person. Subjects who argue with the King are committing blasphemy against God. Implications?

Thomas Hobbes John Locke Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Social Contract Theorists Emerged during the period of Enlightenment. As other scientists were questioning math and science, some theorists were questioning assumptions about government. What is a social contract? An agreement among people defining the rights and duties of individuals with each other and with the government.

Thomas Hobbes ( ) Hobbes challenged Divine Right Theory Did not challenge Monarchy - Any government is better than no government. Why? Must examine the State of Nature: Life without institutions, a primitive state before governments.

Hobbes and the State of Nature Wrote the Leviathan Pessimistic - Man in the state of nature is essentially equal and at “war” Without government, life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” A constant struggle to survive against the evil of others

Hobbes and the Social Contract Out of fear, people want to be ruled. People enter into a social contract with the government. People give up rights and liberties in order to control society and to safeguard property. Individual obedience is necessary in order to stop the greater evil of an endless state of war.

John Locke English An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Second Treatise of Civil Government

Locke and the State of Nature State of perfect freedom and equality no king has the power to void those rights All human beings in their natural state were equal and free to pursue life, health, liberty and possessions (inalienable rights). In this state, everyone is the judge and jury. Creates problems – Gov’t remedies these problems. Governments allow man to pursue his goals more efficiently.

Locke and the Social Contract Men enter into a social contract with the government to preserve life, liberty and property and to assure justice. From this state of nature people would not choose an absolute monarchy, they choose a society governed by standing laws, with power distributed among different groups. If the government acts improperly it breaks the contract with the people. Revolution in some circumstances is not only a right, it is an obligation.

Review the Views on the Social Contract Hobbes: the social contract restricts conflict in the state of nature by surrendering power and instituting justice. Locke: the social contract carries man from the state of nature to be governed in order to preserve liberties and property rights. Now… Rousseau: the social contract limits the power of the state and brings citizens closer to the state of nature.

Jean Jacques Rousseau Swiss - French On The Social Contract, 1762

Rousseau and the State of Nature “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” (Thesis) Natural State is freedom, but people in modern states are not free. Why? The only natural society is the family. Man in the state of nature may have been solitary, but he was healthy, happy, good, free and equal. Problems begin when people form societies. Original “tribal” societies were alright, but the introduction of property created inequality and jealousy. Cannot return to the natural state so we form governments to restore some of our freedoms.

Rousseau and the Social Contract The sovereign exists to safeguard the citizens, and the social contract is an agreement among the people. People renounce their natural rights Rights are redefined and individuals gain civil rights as citizens of the community. People give up their personal will for the general will. Government is only legitimate through agreement and people must periodically revisit the laws, and renew their consent. Ideal state is small enough to allow the citizens to know one another. The state has legitimate power only if it obeys the general will.

Montesquieu’s ideas of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances influenced the framers of the Constitution.

Montesquieu “On The Spirit of Laws” 1748 Admired British system Separation of governmental powers into three divisions the executive, who carries out (executes) the laws the legislative, who makes the laws, and the judicial, who interprets the laws. Tyranny can be avoided by dividing political power among different groups. (Separation of Powers) Tyranny can be avoided by keeping watch on the other branches of government (checks and balances) These would prevent anyone from gaining a monopoly of power.

Review Summarize the social contract. List the social contract philosophers. What is the Enlightenment? What did it change? Where can these ideas be traced? What is the Divine Right of Kings Theory? List other Enlightenment philosophers and their contributions. Describe the two main ideas contributed by Montesquieu.