Political Philosophers 1 2 Ideas of Thomas Hobbes

Political Philosophers 1. 2

Ideas of Thomas Hobbes • man essentially passionate (aka The Lord of the Flies) ______________ • Hobbes theorized that at one time no government existed, there was a period of complete ___________, ______ and destruction • naturally ______ man, cared about others only when they could be of use to him e. g. as allies

• civilization was in a constant of war which were caused by this ______, and the quality of life was ______ • reason led men to seek peace - if only out of their ___________ i. e. their own survival - so they created governments • this governments had to be backed up by swords i. e. ______, otherwise they were mere words

• individual security depended on an all ____________to control man’s selfish nature and acts of aggression • this government began when every man gave up the power to govern themselves to a ___________ (aka King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table) • this group would govern for the whole legislate peace and common defense • in return people had to promise their ___________

• Hobbes choice: ___________________________ • Because the power of government is absolute society is – maintained out of ______ – ______ to the sovereign e. g. king is almost never justified – the sovereign has complete and ______ authority

• government ends when the people are thrown back on their own devices for selfprotection

Ideas of John Locke • man is essentially ______, originally living in a state of nature where he ______ to becomes members of a society, a natural extension of the family unit, for his own ______

• agreement based on _________, discovered through ______ – do not harm others – do not take the possessions of others • although men are fundamentally reasonable, ______ will not follow the laws of society • as well there is a natural conflict between two people who think they are right

• strength will then be needed to make and enforce a decision i. e. judges, written laws and fixed penalties for breaking these laws • government gains power through the ______ given ______ of the people, no one can rule over another man without his consent • the purpose of government is to ______________________

• people give up part of their freedom in order to live in a ______ society where they can enjoy their ______ • all laws rest on the will of the ______ i. e. a ___________between the government and the governed • government ends when it does not live up to its ___________, rebellion is only justified if that occurs

Ideas of Jean Jacques Rousseau • essentially agrees with ______ in all respects, except – evil is a product of ___________ and poor social arrangements – government must conform to the general will of the people, but this general will does ______ necessarily equal the majority, it equals the ___________ - what is best for most

• man serves his own interests by serving the ___________ • dissenters of the common good may have to be forced to obey

Relationship between government and power • Aristotle’s method of classifying governments survives to this day – ______ - all power in the hands of one person, absolute monarchy e. g. King Louis XIV “I am the State” – ______ - when people decide, directly or through representatives, how governments should act, essentially following the rule of the majority

• ______ generally feel that the purpose of life in self-development, people are prone to be evil and resourceful, favours individual action • ______ generally feel that the purpose of life to help others, people are basically good but helpless as individuals, favour collective action