Upload
terry
View
19
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
ADVANCED PLACEMENT GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS. POLITICAL PHILOSPHERS. Thomas Hobbes(English). First Scholar of political ideas or political philosopher. Came from a poor family. Analyzed human nature as basically selfish(as opposed to Confucius) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
POLITICAL PHILOSPHERS
ADVANCED PLACEMENT GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Thomas Hobbes(English)First Scholar of political ideas or political
philosopher. Came from a poor family.Analyzed human nature as basically selfish(as
opposed to Confucius)Theorized that the state of nature was brutal.
“Might makes right.”Ultimately people agreed to trade some
individual freedom for order and protection.
Thomas Hobbes(English)This implied agreement is called a Social
Contract, but Hobbes did not name it.Hobbes believed a monarchy was the best
government (big surprise, it’s all he knew).Caught in the instability of The English Civil War
he had to flee for his life.Argued that a revolt against government risks a
return to the brutal state of nature....in the first place, I put for a general
inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death. (Hobbes, Leviathan
John Locke Believed that all people were subject to
the natural law given by God.Believed that all rational minds would
come to understand natural lawNatural law encouraged the forming of the
social contract.The purpose of the state was to preserve
life, liberty and property.
John LockeElections replay the social contractGovernment power should always be seen as
limitedGovernment abuse of power justifies revolution.Best known work is Two Treatises on
Government (1689) after the Glorious Revolution.
To love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues.” ― John Locke
MontesquieuState needed a constitutional system to limit
government power and protect individual rights.
Believed that only a strong class of nobility could check the power of the king and mob.
Argued that government power could be checked by dividing it among three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial.
“ In the infancy of societies, the chiefs of state shape its institutions; later the institutions shape the chiefs of state.”
Voltaire (French)Wrote novel, Candide, that challenged
the notion that everything happens is for the best.
His satirical works, like Candide, mocked the church and royal court.
His name meant “Lightning”
VoltaireExiled from FranceAdmired English ideal of religious liberty
and relative freedom of the press.Advocate of Free speech. “I
disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.”
An excellent example of a philosophe, or thinker of the Enlightenment.
Rousseau (French)Wrote ideas in a book titled Social
Contract, but did not invent the concept.Sovereign power, the power of the state, is
the general will of the people and is unlimited.
Trusted that the general will of the people would never move to harm individual citizens.
Critics think he lacked a feel for protecting minority rights.
Also had ideas on many other subjects, including children’s education. (Emile)
RousseauMan is born free, and everywhere he is in
chains.” ― Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jefferson (American)Close follower of Locke.Probably learned Locke’s ideas from
neighbor George Mason who was the author of the Virginia Bill of Rights.
Declaration of Independence contains essential Jefferson beliefs.
All people have God given rights.People have a duty to revolt when
government abuse is intolerable.
Jefferson“A Bill of Rights is what the people are
entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.”