Government: September 11, 2015 Objective: I will understand how “natural rights” philosophy influenced the founding generation in creating government.

Take 3 minutes to answer the following Q. What is Human Nature? In other words, what traits of personality and character, if any, do all people have in common? Are people selfish? Do they have the capacity to care for the good of others? Share out ideas

A “state of nature” is any situation in which there is no government- that is, no recognized authority to make and enforce rules, and manage conflicts Class Read: Critical Thinking Exercise: page with Hobbes and Locke on it. Discuss: Questions on Same Page

What values from Natural Rights Philosophy influenced the founding generation? Class Read and Notes in Journal: Natural Rights Philosophy For this exercise you will take notes from the reading, so you will need your journal Date it and write the following…

Thomas Hobbes: Argued that a state of nature gives rise to a “War of every man against every man” Humans would leave the state of nature and enter into a “social contract” where they would consent to an authoritarian state (Leviathan State) Order would be maintained through fear.

John Locke: Argued that in a state of nature “all people are free, equal, and rational” Each individual possessed inalienable rights (life, liberty, and property) and the right to punish those who do not follow reason or respect the rights of others. In a state of nature people would seek personal advantage at the expense of others To secure their inalienable rights, people would leave the state of nature and enter into a “social contract, and form a civil society and eventually form a “government” Argued that if government fails to protect individual rights, people could replace it even through revolution if necessary.

Natural Rights Philosophy influence on the founding generation… Individual Rights Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Human Equality