Intro to Intro to Government and Government and

PoliticsPolitics

Unit 1Unit 1

Political TheoryPolitical Theory

Journal #2Journal #2

Name:Name:

Date:Date:

Copy question:Copy question:

Can humans live without some form of Can humans live without some form of government? Why or why not? government? Why or why not?

Explain.Explain.

Dilemma of GovernmentDilemma of Government The The original dilemma original dilemma of government involved of government involved freedom freedom

versus orderversus order. . – Control over human Control over human behaviorbehavior

The The modern dilemma modern dilemma of government involves of government involves freedom freedom versus equalityversus equality. . – Control over human Control over human rightsrights

The problem with Gov’t is that the leaders are human = The problem with Gov’t is that the leaders are human = CONFLICT.CONFLICT.

What is the nature of humankind? Good or evil?What is the nature of humankind? Good or evil?

Philosophical Theories about Philosophical Theories about MankindMankind

State of Nature (WHAT ARE WE?):State of Nature (WHAT ARE WE?):– The “hypothetical” state in which humans lived before The “hypothetical” state in which humans lived before

the state (i.e. gov’t) was created. the state (i.e. gov’t) was created.

Natural Law: Natural Law: – Theorizes that laws come from nature and that humans Theorizes that laws come from nature and that humans

have an have an internal sense of moralityinternal sense of morality. . – Humans act in self-preservation.Humans act in self-preservation.

There is a defined right and wrong There is a defined right and wrong We are all equalWe are all equal

Social Contract: Social Contract: – People give up their freedom (sovereignty) to gain order People give up their freedom (sovereignty) to gain order

through the rule of law.through the rule of law.

Major Political Major Political TheoristsTheorists

Ancient Greek PhilosophyAncient Greek Philosophy←←Teacher StudentTeacher Student→→

Plato (428-349 BC) and Aristotle (384 – Plato (428-349 BC) and Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) 322 BC) both agreed that gov’t should be both agreed that gov’t should be ran by “virtuous” and rational thinkers. ran by “virtuous” and rational thinkers.

Elected Elected OligarchiesOligarchies are the best form of are the best form of rule (republic). rule (republic).

People are People are not equalnot equal, so each should have , so each should have their own level/place in society. their own level/place in society. – Class systemClass system

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes(1588 – 1679)(1588 – 1679)

State of Nature (What are we?)State of Nature (What are we?): People are : People are basically evil basically evil by natureby nature

–Saw people living as:Saw people living as: PredatorsPredators Doing anything they wanted for their own benefit.Doing anything they wanted for their own benefit. - Life in such a condition would be - Life in such a condition would be ““solitary, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

HobbesHobbes

View on Govt.:View on Govt.:– A A strong, powerful strong, powerful government was government was

necessarynecessary to to escape chaos escape chaos and guarantee and guarantee survival for the weak and helpless. survival for the weak and helpless.

Social Contract: You surrender your freedom to the government, but in return you live in a ordered and secure society.

As long as the government maintains order, you do not have the right to break the contract.

HobbesHobbes

Control everythingControl everything

John LockeJohn Locke(1632 – 1704)(1632 – 1704)

State of Nature (What are we?): State of Nature (What are we?): People born People born with a blank slate (“tabula rasa”) but with a blank slate (“tabula rasa”) but mostly good mostly good in nature. in nature.

Liberty to conduct one’s life as one sees fit (no Liberty to conduct one’s life as one sees fit (no interference from others; but cannot hurt others)interference from others; but cannot hurt others)

What motivates humankind?What motivates humankind?

You act to preserve your wealth, life, liberty, and You act to preserve your wealth, life, liberty, and well-beingwell-being

LockeLocke

View on government:– Protect Protect life, liberty, and property. – Create order in society where people Create order in society where people can can

flourish, progress and prosper. flourish, progress and prosper.

Social ContractSocial Contract: : Surrender rights to government,Surrender rights to government,

Unjust government?Unjust government? Overthrow!Overthrow!

– Government: leave people free to pursue their Government: leave people free to pursue their own interests while protecting their rights.own interests while protecting their rights.

LockeLocke

LET PEOPLE LIVELET PEOPLE LIVE

JEAN JACQUES JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAUROUSSEAU

(1712 – 1778)(1712 – 1778)

State of nature (What are we?): State of nature (What are we?): Born innocent; Born innocent; Society makes you good/evil.Society makes you good/evil.

View of governmentView of government: : – Exists to protect the Exists to protect the commoncommon good. good. – The will of the people gives power and

direction to the state (FEARED republic! TRUE DEMOCRACY).

Lived in GenevaLived in Geneva

JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAUJEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU

Social Contract: Social Contract: a contract between people (a contract between people (not people & govt) not people & govt) Freedom surrendered to will of majorityFreedom surrendered to will of majority If you break the contract, you should be If you break the contract, you should be

executed.executed.

People create govt. to escape pain and sufferingPeople create govt. to escape pain and suffering

Karl Marx (1818 – 1883)Karl Marx (1818 – 1883)

State of nature (What are we?): State of nature (What are we?): Producers of products, historical conditions determine what historical conditions determine what and how we produce. and how we produce.

We don’t think independently, we repeat back the We don’t think independently, we repeat back the ideas of our day. ideas of our day.

Everything you know is wrong! We think the way Everything you know is wrong! We think the way we do because we are products of the mode of we do because we are products of the mode of production (i.e. we are all products of capitalism)production (i.e. we are all products of capitalism)

Karl MarxKarl Marx

There is a There is a natural and unavoidable conflicnatural and unavoidable conflict t between those who own means of production between those who own means of production (bourgeoisie) and those who work (proletariat)(bourgeoisie) and those who work (proletariat)

– Capitalism & private property = “great evils” Capitalism & private property = “great evils”

– CorruptCorrupt the ruling elite and the people the ruling elite and the people

There is no social contract…There is no social contract…it is what the ruling it is what the ruling class wants you to believe…an “opiate”…no such class wants you to believe…an “opiate”…no such thing as democracy.thing as democracy.

Karl MarxKarl Marx

View of govt:View of govt:

– Marxist thought formed the basis of Marxist thought formed the basis of socialism & socialism & communismcommunism

– Govt. owns all land and industry on Govt. owns all land and industry on behalfbehalf of the people. of the people.

– Public goods were to be Public goods were to be equallyequally shared. shared.

– Class conflict would not exist. Class conflict would not exist.

MarxMarx

EqualityEquality

Major Political TheoristsMajor Political TheoristsRecapRecap

Thomas Hobbes: OrderThomas Hobbes: Order– Government should maintain control and regulate Government should maintain control and regulate

most aspects of human life to ensure order.most aspects of human life to ensure order.

John Locke: FreedomJohn Locke: Freedom– Government should allow man to pursue their own Government should allow man to pursue their own

interests with only protecting their individual rights. interests with only protecting their individual rights.

Karl Marx: Equality Karl Marx: Equality – Government should promote equality and regulation Government should promote equality and regulation

of goods and industry. People work for the good of of goods and industry. People work for the good of the state. the state.

Who is Right?Who is Right?

Karl MarxKarl Marx John Locke John Locke Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes

(Socialism/Communism)(Socialism/Communism) (Liberalism) (Liberalism) (Powerful Central (Powerful Central Gov.)Gov.)

EQUALITY LET PEOPLE LIVE REGULATE EVERYTHING

Other Political Other Political Theorists that Theorists that

influenced American influenced American PoliticsPolitics

BARON DE BARON DE MONTESQUIEUMONTESQUIEU

(1689 – 1755) (1689 – 1755)

Claimed: Avoid tyranny by Claimed: Avoid tyranny by dividing and sharing political power among groupsamong groups

To prevent the abuse of power it is To prevent the abuse of power it is

necessary to separate the power of necessary to separate the power of governmentgovernment

Checks and Balances:Checks and Balances:– legislative: make the laws legislative: make the laws – executive: enforce the laws executive: enforce the laws – judicial: interpret the lawsjudicial: interpret the laws

VOLTAIREVOLTAIRE(1694 – 1778)(1694 – 1778)

Freedom of thought, speech and opinion Freedom of thought, speech and opinion (religion) is (religion) is most important liberty most important liberty a person a person can have. can have.

"I do not agree with a word you say, but I will "I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."defend to the death your right to say it."

Group discussionGroup discussion

Assignment: State of natureAssignment: State of nature