NATURAL RIGHTS & CLASSICAL REPUBLICANISM

JOHN LOCKE

A Philosopher Believed in Natural

Rights 3 Natural Rights: 1. Life 2. Liberty 3. Property

State of Nature-

No government, no rules.

1. People and their property will be insecure and unprotected.

2. People are sociable and reasonable but have self-interest.

3. Stronger & smarter people will take advantage of the weaker.

4. The weaker will band together against the stringer.

5. In order to govern you must have consent.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT

Direct Democracy- (Ancient Greece) people rule themselves

Republic- (Ancient Rome) people elect representatives.

Characteristics:

1. Civic Virtue- you work to help others and serve the common good. You put others above yourself.

2. Moral Education- Teach right from wrong to have civic virtue and help common good.

3. Small, Uniform Communities- Small community with the same beliefs.

Can you give examples of people with Civic Virtue?

ADVANTAGES

1. Representatives selected to serve the common good.

Common Good- what is best for the community as a whole.

2. Laws are more efficient or better for the people.

3. People have a say in their government.

4. The representatives have to listen to the people.

Representative- people elected to act for others.

Can you name representatives in

SBHS?

1. Doesn’t work in large communities

2. Difficult for everyone to have the same beliefs.

3. Factions-small interest groups would form.

People elect representatives who then vote for laws for the people.

DisadvantagesRepresentative

Democracy

Can you think of an example of

a faction today?