Political Theorists

Descriptions of Government “The Punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is to live under the government of worse men.” ~Plato “The government is us; we are the government, you and I.” ~Theodore Roosevelt “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.” ~Thomas Paine “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” ~James Madison “Government is not the solution. Government is the problem.” ~Ronald Reagan

Connecting to State of Nature…  Some form of government is needed  How should these governments be created? What is their central idea/focus?

Hobbes  Text: Leviathan  State of Nature:  State of war with no morality  “The life of man, (is) solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”.  Everyone is living in constant fear, and therefore no one is really free  Purpose of Government:  To impose law and order to prevent the state of war  “(The only way) they may nourish themselves and live contentedly”.

Hobbes  Type of Rule:  Governments are designed to control, not necessarily to represent  “The multitude so united in one person… (he is a) mortal god…”.  “ ….this person, is called SOVEREIGN, and said to have sovereign power; and everyone besides, his SUBJECT”.  “ (the people) confer all their power and strength upon one man… (and) submit their wills to his will”.

Locke  Text: Two Treatises on Government  State of Nature:  Men exist in perfect freedom, which is neither good nor bad, just chaotic  “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions… and ought…, as much as he can to preserve the rest of mankind”.  Tabula Rasa: Blank Slate

Locke  Purpose of Government:  “the only way, whereby any one divests himself of his natural liberty… (and) to join and unite into a community (is) for their comfortable, safe and peaceable living… in a secure enjoyment of their properties and a greater security against any, that are not of it”.  To secure natural rights  Life  Liberty  Property

Locke  Type of Rule:  Law is basis of government  People select representatives. Representation is a safeguard against oppression  People can rebel if the government is not holding up their promise of protection

Jean-Jacque Rousseau  Text: The Social Contract  State of Nature:  Basically good but lives by instinct  Men are free and equal and civilization is what corrupts them  Purpose of Government:  To bring people into harmony and unite them under a “general will”  “men in a state of nature are arrived at that crisis when the strength of each individual is insufficient to defend him from the attacks he is subject to”

Rousseau  Type of Rule  Citizens must be involved in a more direct democracy  “The total alienation of each associate, and all his right, to the whole community… this act of association produces a MORAL COLLECTIVE Body”.  “whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be compelled to it… for this is the condition which guarantees his absolute personal independence”  “the voice of duty succeeds to physical impulse”  Individual wills are subordinate to the general (collective) will

Next:  Read through the primary sources from each of the philosophers  On a large piece of paper, you will complete one of the below activities. One activity for each philosopher, but each activity must be done.  Activity Options (1 option per philosopher)  Pick a quote from one of the resources and make an illustration to explain it  Match one of the quotes from the beginning of class to the ideas of a philosopher and explain how they are connected (at least 2 reasons)  Agree or disagree with one of the philosophers ideas and provide at least 2 examples to support your argument