Political Philosophy Exam 2

Hobbes & De Gouges

How does Hobbes understand human equality? How does it differ from De Gouges’? Others?

We all have an equal ability to attain things (their desires) and that leads to war 

De Gouge-views it more morally and the standards that go along with it (align with kings and the Framers)

What is the one point of convergence between Hobbes, the framers, and de Gouges?

What gives the State its legitimate authority?

The People

How might MLK object to Hobbes’s assertion that human beings are fundamentally

motivated by their long-term, narrow self-interest?

-King would object to the statement that humans are incapable of caring about another

-King would deny that human beings are NARROWLY self-interested. King knows that people have self-interest but believes they are capable of caring about the interests of others as well

Reason – what is it? What types? (Hobbes)

Reason is the ability to calculate, compare, and think logically to figure out the best way to achieve a goal

Desires & Aversions (aka “the passions”) (Hobbes)

-The factors that drive people to believe or think between right and wrong (they motivate human behavior)

-A desire is when a person wants something, while an aversion is when a person wants to avoid something

Human beings’ most fundamental desire (Hobbes)

SELF-PRESERVATION

Human beings’ most fundamental desire is the desire for self-preservation, or staying alive and avoiding death.

Deliberation (& free will) (Hobbes)

Deliberation is the process of weighing different desires, fears, and possible outcomes before making a decision

‘Good’ versus ‘Evil’ (Hobbes)

good and evil are based on individual desires and aversions

Power (Hobbes)

Power is a person’s ability to obtain things they desire and achieve their goals.

Equality (Hobbes)

All human beings are naturally equal in their ability to harm one another and pursue their goals.

What are the Three Causes of Conflict

-Competition: People fight to gain resources, wealth, or other things they want.

-Diffidence (distrust): People fight because they fear others may attack or harm them.

-Glory: People fight to protect their reputation, gain respect, or avoid being seen as weak.

State of Nature (Hobbes)

-This idea of human beings existing without a common authority (without government or the state)

-The state of nature is a hypothetical situation where people live without a government or authority to enforce laws.

State of war (Hobbes)

-A product of the state of nature

-He thinks that human beings without a common authority would act solely in perpetual threats and destruction

-The state of war is a condition in which people live with constant fear and the possibility of violence because there is no common authority to keep the peace.

Right of nature (natural right) (Hobbes)

The freedom each person has to use their own power to protect their life and preserve themselves

What are The First Three Laws of Nature

-Seek peace: People should try to achieve peace whenever possible, but they have the right to defend themselves when peace is not possible.

-Give up certain rights: People should be willing to give up some of their natural freedoms, as long as others do the same, to create peace and security.

-Keep Valid Covenants: People must honor their agreements and promises because keeping them is necessary for justice and a peaceful society.

What is justice? (Hobbes)

Keeping your agreements and honoring your promises.

Can the sovereign act Unjustly? (Hobbes)

No, the Sovereign cannot technically act unjustly toward their subjects

The purpose of the State (Hobbes)

-To ensure that we don't end up in a state of war or nature

-The purpose of the state is to maintain peace, provide security, and protect people from violence and conflict.

What gives the state/sovereign legitimate political authority? (Hobbes)

The sovereign gains legitimate political authority through a social contract in which people agree with one another to establish a government.

What are the limits of the State’s authority? (Hobbes)

The state’s authority is limited mainly by its responsibility to protect the lives and safety of its subjects.

Is revolution ever justified? (Hobbes) Explain Why!

-Hobbes says no; revolution is never justified.

-Revolution is generally not justified because overthrowing the sovereign can lead to chaos, violence, and a return to the state of nature

Equality (De Gouge)

-Equality means that women should have the same rights and freedoms as men.

Natural rights (De Gouge)

Natural rights are basic rights that all people are born with, including liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.

What gives the state legitimate (De Gouge)

Through the preservation of natural rights and the collective sovereignty of both women and men

The purpose of the State ( De Gouge)

The purpose of the state is to protect the natural rights and freedoms of all people, including women.

Her point about criminal responsibility (articles 7 & 15)

7-No woman is exempt; she is indicted, arrested, and detained in the cases

determined by the law. Women, like men, obey this rigorous law.

15-The mass of women, joining with men in paying taxes, have the right to hold

accountable to every public agent of the administration.

-Women should be subject to the same laws and legal consequences as men.

What accounts for the Asymmetry? (De Gouge)

-The asymmetry comes from the fact that women were expected to obey the law and face punishment like men.

The postscript (De Gouge)

-Women must recognize their oppression and fight for equal rights.

-It reads in a slightly unusual way; it looks like it's blaming women and saying, "do better “women have done more harm than good’ she's blaming women for not having civil liberties in a document declaring their rights? 

Is this a condemnation of women? Is she scornful of Women?

De Gouges criticizes women for accepting unequal treatment, but she mainly wants them to recognize their oppression and fight for equal rights. She believes women must take action to challenge society’s restrictions and demand equality.

Why is she blaming women?

-To provoke them to take action

-De Gouges blames women for accepting unequal treatment and encourages them to recognize their oppression and fight for equal rights.