1. Political Philosophers

2. Philosophers Group Work
You will work in teams of FOUR to gather and report information about key philosophers whose ideas helped form the basis for our democracy!
Read about philosopher: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau or Montesquieu
Fill in boxes on worksheet
Share information with group
Apply concepts

3. Thomas Hobbes Biography
Born in England – went to school with noblemen and intellectuals
Lived in England during civil war
Devoted monarchist
1640s – Parliament was going to turn on King Charles I
Charles I executed
Views criticized by Parliament

4. Thomas Hobbes Beliefs Philosophy:
“state of nature” = individuals equal but suffer from fear of danger
Men motivated by desire for power
Lives are “solitary, nasty, poor, brutish, and short”
Natural Right= all people are equal but suffer from fear
Government:
Defends absolute power of King
Leviathan: mythological whale-like sea monster that devours ships
Leviathan = government
Government = powerful state created for order
Social Contract created by people to give up power

5. John Locke Biography 1632-1704 Born in England
Friends with nobles and scholars in government
Alive during the Glorious (Bloodless) Revolution
William and Mary invited to retake the throne after James II flees
Two Treatise of Government

6. John Locke Beliefs Philosophy
Agreed with Hobbes – needs Social Contract for peace
Law of nature- people have a peaceful moral code
Difference:
1. Life, Liberty, and Property in State of Nature/ Right of Nature
Cannot be taken or given up (inalienable)
2. Social Contract is between people and sovereign
Government
King did not hold absolute power
Acted only to enforce/protect natural rights
Representative Government

7. Baron de Montesquieu Biography
Born in France to noble and prosperous family
Highly educated
Visited England where observed and liked political system
The Spirit of the Laws
Put on Forbidden Books by Roman Catholic Church

8. Baron de Montesquieu Philosophy:
In State of Nature individual fearful – they avoid violence and war
State of War leads humans to live in society
Law of nature-To have Liberty gov’t is needed so man isn’t afraid
One person takes too much power
Right of Nature- None
Government
Opposed monarchy
Social Contract- Should be divided and checked
Separated into executive, legislative, judicial

9. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Biography
Born in Switzerland
Orphaned so did a great deal of traveling where he met figures of intellectual movement
Released Social Contract in 1762
Scorned by officials and publicly burned
Had to seek refuge from French authorities

10. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Beliefs
Philosophy:
Man naturally good but corrupted by society Law of Nature
Savages in State of Nature but are free; Right of Nature- equal and happy
Property ownership created inequality
Social Contract not willing agreement but fraud against people by rich
Government:
Believed in direct democracy
No separation of powers
“We the People”
People = political power

11. Debate Topics
The best form of government is a representative democracy.
Only the president should have the power to declare war.
A good way to make laws is for all the people to directly vote on them.
Religion should be a part of the government.
The government should have the authority to confiscate a person’s property for the public good.

12. Philosopher Debate
Each group member takes on the role of Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, or Rousseau.
Decide whether your philosopher would agree or disagree with each statement.
Support by referencing one of his major beliefs.
Debate each topic from the point of view of the philosopher you are role- playing.
After the debates are finished, you will discuss which of the four philosophers you agree with the most and why.