Influential Philosophers Foundations of American Government.
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Transcript of Influential Philosophers Foundations of American Government.
Influential Philosophers
Foundations of American Government
Ancient Greece The early Athenians believed in individual
freedom within the boundaries of law 508 BC = Athens became one of the first city-
states to establish a democracy* Aristotle: widely regarded as the most brilliant
philosopher in Western thought. Believed humans to be naturally social &
political due to 1) reasoned speech & 2) moral thought.
Index Card Question…
What form of government did the Ancient Greeks provide our “founding” Fathers?
Aristotle 384B.C.-322B.C. Ruling is noble Social relationships & the cultivation
of ethics: friendship
Aristotle (cont.) Nicomachean Ethics: ten books
which discuss “virtues”. In order to become “good”, one
cannot simply study what virtue is; one must actually do virtuous deeds.
Emphasizes the importance of context to ethical behavior – what might be right in one situation might be wrong in another.
Early Roman Republic 509 BC Consisted of three parts: 2 consuls,
equal in authority, elected for 1 year; the Senate, a 50 member oligarchy, and the citizens, organized into assemblies
Mixed form of government Early Rome civilization responsible for
the idea of a republican government.
Index Card Question…
What idea was created by the early Roman Civilization?
Magna Carta 1215 We the People pages 19-22
Important terms:*feudalism*monarchy*representative government
Magna Carta: Key Points
1. First time the English people had placed limits on the power of the government*
2. The rule of law: both parties must comply with laws. Places limits on the power of government!
Index Card Question…
Why was the Magna Carta important?
Key Vocabulary
tyranny – abuse of power
absolute power – power without limits
Niccolo Machiavelli 1469-1527
Machiavelli “I say, therefore, that all these kinds of government are
harmful in consequence of the short life of the three good ones and the viciousness of the three bad ones. Having noted these failings, prudent lawgivers rejected each of these forms individually and chose instead to combine them into one that would be firmer and more stable than any, since each form would serve as a check upon the others in a state having monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy at one and the same time.”
-- Nicollo Machiavelli
The Prince
Machiavelli Both of his best known works (Il
Principe and Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio) are analyses of government.
Name has become synonomous with amorality and corruption.
Machiavelli introduced the idea of situational ethics – the ends justify the means.
Index Card Question…
What was Machiavelli's political belief?
John Calvin1509-1564
John Calvin
Most influential thinker of the Protestant reformation
Believed church and state were both under the authority of Christ
Believed the job of governments was a sacred calling
Calvin's life was a blend of religion & politics
John Locke1632-1704
John Locke(1632-1704)
Wrote Two Treatises of Government Proposed that government rests on
popular consent and rebellion is permissible when government subverts the ends (protection of life, liberty, and property) for which it is established.
Believed that public welfare made government necessary
John Locke Locke wrote extensively about natural
rights: the rights to life, liberty, and property which all people have because they are human beings.
Locke also wrote about a situation he called state of nature – the absence of government and law.
Locke said the purpose of government was to protect the rights of the people (natural rights)*.
Index Cards…
What was John Locke’s political belief? What was the term John Locke used
to describe everyone’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (property)?
What was Locke’s idea of social contract (look at notes from yesterday)?
English Bill of Rights Passed by Parliament in 1689. The laws are
supreme and apply to citizens and government alike.*
Gave certain rights to Englishmen & further limited the powers of the monarch.
The EBOR gave Parliament the balance of power in the government.
Specific Rights 1. right to trial before a neutral judge and jury 2. protection of life, liberty, and property from
illegal procedures; 3. right to information, particularly about
accusations; 4. the idea that one is innocent until proven
guilty 5. right to be represented by counsel and to
call witnesses in defense.
EBOR Disallowed kings/queens from:*collecting taxes without permission of Parliament;*interfering with free speech & debate in
Parliament;*maintaining an army in times of peace;*requiring excessive bail or administering
cruel punishment;*overturning laws made by Parliament.
Index Card
EBOR (English Bill of Rights) stated that law is supreme and applies to who?
Thomas Hobbes1588-1679
Thomas Hobbes
Born in London, educated at Oxford Wrote Leviathan in 1651 Believed in an absolute monarchy “All mankind [is in] a perpetual and
restless desire for power…that [stops] only in death.”
Believed that humans (and nations) were basically selfish and would do anything to better their position.
HobbesSocial Contract Theory
Governments were created, according to Hobbes, to protect people from their own selfishness.
Distrusted democracy, but believed that a diverse group of representatives presenting common problems would prevent a monarch from being cruel and unfair.
Index Cards….
Describe Hobbes’ view of state of nature?
What form of government did Hobbes’ support in his book Leviathan?
Montesquieu1689-1755
Baron de Montesquieu1689-1755
Believed that all things were made up of rules or laws that never changed.
According to Montesquieu, there were 3 types of government: monarchy, republic, and despotism.
Believed that a government elected by the people was the best form.
The success of a democracy was contingent on maintaining the right balance of power.
Monty’s Idea!!! Separate the powers of
government among different branches; each should represent different interests in society.
Balance the powers among the branches so no one branch could control the others.
Give each branch ways to check the use of power by the other branches.
Index Cards….
What was the name of Montesquieu’s term for dividing government into different branches of government?
Rousseau1712 - 1778
Jean-Jacques Rousseau Believed that man was good by nature – “a
noble savage” – corrupted by society. Society changes man’s amour de soi
(positive self-love), into propre (pride). Believed that humans would degenerate &
perish unless they join together in social contract, abandoning claims of natural right.
Believed in popular sovereignty & the government’s role as enforcing the general will of the people.
Index Card…
What political philosopher believed humans would perish (die) without a social contract?
What do you think?
Homework: Write a short essay explaining who your favorite philosopher is and WHY. In other words, you must defend your answer.