Bellringer: Who do you think gives people who run the government the authority or power to rule us?
Bellringer What is a contract? Give an example of a Contract.
How would you feel about living when people are fighting violently against the government. Would you support rebellion?
How do you view human nature? Do you think people are naturally born good, or naturally born bad?
Government Philosophy
WHY GOVERNMENT? This is a question that has been repeatedly asked by Government Philosophers Many different philosophies on this.. But in medieval England the main theory was The Divine Right of Kings God decides who the ruler (king or queen) is. The people have NO right to rebel against the government
THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Social Contract Some started to advocate that people should have some control over their government. This is called a social contract. Worried these theorists would inspire people to rebel against their governments (king), Hobbes believed people needed different reasoning for why they needed to obey their king.. Helping to inspire his philosophy
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
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?
Thomas Hobbes Philosophical Conservative- Born 1588 Experienced negative consequences of violence as a child 64 years old when the English Civil War started, this is 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
State of Nature A world without government Hobbes believed people were selfish and evil
Hobbes State Of Nature Theory State of Nature Theory from the Leviathan In a State of Nature life is terrible, it is nasty, brutish, and short 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)
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?
John Locke Locke a Philosophical Liberal Born 1632 Lived through the peaceful Glorious Revolution in 1688 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 (1689)
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
Locke s 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 so that government can protect their natural rights, especially right to property 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
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?
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)