1. Government Philosophy

2. Philosophical Conservatism vs. Philosophical Liberalism
Is mankind naturally born selfish and bad/evil?
Philosophical Conservative would say YES!
Philosophical Liberal would say NO!
This belief system tends to dictate how a person will then view the purpose, or needs, of government

3. WHY GOVERNMENT?
This is a question that has been repeatedly asked by Government Philosophers
Many different philosophies on this.. But in medieval England the predominant theory was The Divine Right of Kings
Philosophy basically stated that you should obey your ruler because God selected that ruler for a reason
Social Contract Theorists started to defy this idea, and advocated that people should have some control over their government
Worried these theorists would inspire rebellions, Hobbes believed people needed different reasoning for why they needed to obey their king.. Helping to inspire his philosophy…

4. Thomas Hobbes
Fun Fact: Philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Calvin are the inspiration for the name of the popular comic strip, “Calvin and Hobbes” … Can you see how this is evident?

5. Thomas Hobbes Philosophical Conservative- Born 1588
Experienced negative consequences of violence as a child
64 years old when the English Civil War started, when he wrote Leviathan.
Published his beliefs in “The Leviathan”
Leviathan was a biblical sea monster so
powerful that no power on Earth could
compare to it

8. Hobbes’ “State Of Nature” Theory
State of Nature Theory from “the Leviathan”
In a State of Nature, without government, there is complete chaos, death, and destruction
Government brings order and stops chaos, death, and destruction
People give up their personal freedom to government in exchange for protection (a social contract)
An absolute ruler with all power is necessary to provide proper protection
Therefore citizens do not have a right to rebel, instead they give up their freedom to govt. for protection
Hobbes believes a state of nature continues.. But between countries rather than individuals (Government protects people from other Governments)

9. Hobbes Discussion Questions
How is Hobbes a Philosophical Conservative?
What is Hobbe’s opinion on the purpose of government?
What do you think may have influenced Hobbe’s beliefs or opinions?
Can you think of any modern day examples that would confirm Hobbe’s philosophy on a strictly kept social contract?
What is your opinion on Hobbe’s theories?

10. John Locke Locke a Philosophical Liberal – Born 1632
Also wrote during the English Civil Wars
“Tabula Rasa”- Blank Slate
Mankind born with a blank slate that evolves over time from different experiences
All people share a common human sense of being human .. He calls these natural rights
Wrote philosophical ideas in “Two Treatises on Government”

11. Locke’s “Natural Rights” Theory
Locke believed all people had “Natural Rights” which included the right to:
Life – to be alive and thrive
Liberty – to be free to make own decisions
Property – to own different possessions that make life better/easier

12. The Social Contract Locke disagreed with Hobbes on the state of nature
Felt a state of nature would not be mass chaos, but there would still be issues
Admitted that people’s natural rights were not protected in a state of nature
People give up some personal freedoms in order to have a government that protects their natural rights, this is known as a social contract
A Governments sole purpose is to protect natural rights for the people
This is an agreement between people and their government called a social contract
A Government that goes beyond this violates natural rights
If Government infringes upon people’s natural rights, then the people have a right to rebel and create a new government

13. Locke Discussion Questions
How is Locke a Philosophical Conservative?
What is Locke’s opinion on the purpose of government?
What do you think may have influenced Locke’s beliefs or opinions?
How does Locke’s theories differentiate from Hobbes?
Can you think of any possible influences of Locke’s philosophy that can be found within our own government or nation’s history?
What is your opinion on Locke’s theories?

14. Questions? How do Locke and Hobbes compare? (use worksheet)
Shared experience of the English Civil War?
The Purpose of Authority?
Rights and Civil Liberties?
What do you think the impact of these theories were on our founding fathers (and therefore our system of government)