Political Theory

Plato ( B.C.) The best government is one that seek “Truth” The best government is one that seek “Truth” Government that seeks the “Truth” will be just Government that seeks the “Truth” will be just “The philosopher is in love with truth, that is, not with the changing world of sensation, which is the object of opinion, but with the unchanging reality which is the object of knowledge.” (Plato, 380BC) The Republic

Aristotle ( BC) Man is a “social” animal Man is a “social” animal Man is destined to live under government Man is destined to live under government “Just” government serves the interests of its participants and deserves their attention “Just” government serves the interests of its participants and deserves their attention Envisioned a constitutional republic Envisioned a constitutional republic Politics

St. Thomas Aquinas ( ) Man is subject to Natural Law Man is subject to Natural Law Man can discern the law of God without being subject to the church Man can discern the law of God without being subject to the church Government must respect the Law of Nature Government must respect the Law of Nature Man has rights with the Law of Nature that are superior to the rights of any entity that subjects man Man has rights with the Law of Nature that are superior to the rights of any entity that subjects man Summa Theologica

Thomas Hobbes ( ) Man is essentially an “evil” animal Man is essentially an “evil” animal Government is a “necessity” and therefore is “just” Government is a “necessity” and therefore is “just” Government exists as a “Social Contract” between the people for the purpose of preserving “social order” and their government Government exists as a “Social Contract” between the people for the purpose of preserving “social order” and their government Government should serve its citizens, to protect their natural rights Government should serve its citizens, to protect their natural rights Government must have a higher order of right than any individual within that government Government must have a higher order of right than any individual within that government The Leviathan

John Locke ( ) Man has basic natural rights Man has basic natural rights Natural rights include: Life, Liberty, Property Natural rights include: Life, Liberty, Property Government must be created that respects those rights Government must be created that respects those rights Government that does not respect the natural rights of individuals inherently has no authority Government that does not respect the natural rights of individuals inherently has no authority Law has an “equivalence” to right Law has an “equivalence” to right Two Treatises on Government

Montesquieu ( ) “government should be set up so that no man need be afraid of another” “government should be set up so that no man need be afraid of another” Three functions of government: Three functions of government: Executive Executive Legislative Legislative Judicial Judicial These functions of government should be “separate from, but dependent on, each other” These functions of government should be “separate from, but dependent on, each other”

Voltaire François-Marie Arouet ( ) Man is a “rational animal” and as such can reason the “truth”.* Man is a “rational animal” and as such can reason the “truth”.* Government is a rational function that protects the natural rights of its citizens. Government is a rational function that protects the natural rights of its citizens. Government is a secular enterprise, and not subject to higher authority. Government is a secular enterprise, and not subject to higher authority. *Often understood as the justification for majority rule

Rousseau ( ) Man has “natural” rights that supersede any privileges that may be granted by government Man has “natural” rights that supersede any privileges that may be granted by government Proper government is one that respects the natural rights of man Proper government is one that respects the natural rights of man Government is a “contract” between men, subjecting themselves voluntarily to rule based on a respect for their rights Government is a “contract” between men, subjecting themselves voluntarily to rule based on a respect for their rights Sovereignty of government comes from the “common will” of the people via the Rule of Law Sovereignty of government comes from the “common will” of the people via the Rule of Law The Social Contract