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Do we need government? Locke and Hobbes
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How would you compare these statements of Locke and Hobbes?
“All humans are naturally selfish and wicked. That is why the only way to create government…is to give all the power and strength to one man…men will give up the right of governing oneself to this man.” --Thomas Hobbes “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which drives everyone: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind…that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent (all powerful), and infinitely wise maker.” (adapted from J. Locke)
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How does Locke convince us to give up our liberties and join a government?
“If man in the state of nature…be absolute lord of his own person and possessions equal to the greatest and subject to nobody, why will he part with his freedom, his empire, and subject himself to the authority and control of any other power? It is obvious to answer that though in the state of nature he hath such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain and constantly exposed to the invasion of others…the enjoyment of property he has in this state is very unsafe, very insecure, very dangerous.” - J. Locke
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Why do we trust people to follow the rules of this new government they have joined?
“All men may be retrained from invading others rights, and from doing hurt to one another, and the law of nature be observed…preservation of all mankind, the execution of the law of nature is, in that state, put into every man’s hands…[the] right to punish the transgressors of the law (law breakers)…”
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Why do we trust people to follow the rules of this new government they have joined?
They have entered the government by consent. There are consequences for breaking the rules the government has set up (“punishments for transgressors”)
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Scenarios #1: Yesterday a student from Murrow said she was going to make a speech in the auditorium during D-Band, criticizing the teachers and staff here at the school. Later that afternoon, the student was told that if he made the speech she would be expelled from the school. What would both Locke and Hobbes do in this scenario? (Use evidence from the documents to answer the question).
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#3: DAILY NEWS Headlines:
Paris Hilton released on Drunk Driving Charges Unemployed Man in Canarsie Sentence to 15 Years on Drunk Driving Charges What would Locke and Hobbes say about the above headlines?
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#2: We are coming close to a gubernatorial election… 1
#2: We are coming close to a gubernatorial election… 1. Who would Locke vote for? Why? 2. Who would Hobbes vote for? Why? CADIDATE A CANDIDATE B encourages people to evaluate their government believes in strict laws and punishment accepts free speech wants total control over the country believes in democratic principles against free speech and independence wants to put more money into space exploration and science feels that one person should make all of the decisions
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