Quiz 3 Phil Descartes -

What is Hobbes’ view of human nature in the state of nature?

Life in the state of nature is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” People act out of self-interest and fear, making the natural condition violent and unsafe

• Some people believe
  rights are given by God.

•  Didn’t believe
  this. Nature is the source,
  and...

• There is only ONE
  ESSENTIAL RIGHT!

Hobes 

What is Hobbes’ major political work?

Leviathan — it outlines his theory of government and social order.

What is the Leviathan?

The Leviathan represents the sovereign or ruler — an all-powerful authority that maintains order and peace through strength and enforcement of laws.

What is a “right,” according to Hobbes?

The right of self-preservation — the natural right to use one’s power to protect and maintain one’s life.

What does Hobbes mean by “peace through strength”?

To avoid the chaos of the state of nature, people give up some freedom to a powerful ruler (the Leviathan) who enforces peace through strong authority.

What is the Social Contract for Hobbes?

An agreement among individuals to surrender some freedom to a sovereign in exchange for protection and social order.

A philosophical concept that
points to the hypothetical situation before there was
a government.

State of nature 

every man is enemy to every
man and life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short

The state of nature

The state of nature

There is no law, no morality,
no property, and only one “natural right”—the right
to protect oneself using any means at one’s
disposal, including violence and slaughter.

• The ruler—i.e., the sovereign, must be granted absolute power to ensure safety and the continuance of social harmony.
  

• The sovereign promises to use her absolute power to guarantee that its subjects/citizens honor their agreements with each other.

Solution to the State of nature problem 

What is Locke’s view of the state of nature?

The state of nature is good — people are rational and guided by natural law and reason, capable of cooperation and moral behavior.

What is Locke’s major work on government?

Two Treatises of Government — the foundation of modern democracy and individual rights.

“state of nature” and the “political state.”

Two treaties 

Locke dismantles the legitimacy
of the “divine right of kings” idea

First treaty

puts forth his political
philosophy and theory of democratic rule.

Second treaty

Can be discovered by reason alone and applies to all people

Natural law 

Can be discovered only through God’s special revelation and applies only to those to whom it is revealed and whom God specifically indicates are to be bound

Divine law

State nature for Locke was

• No governments

• No laws

• No police

The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it,, which obliges everyone and reason, which is that law, teaches mankind , who will consult it

John Locke

What is Locke’s version of the Social Contract?

People form governments to protect their natural rights — life, liberty, property, and health — and give limited power to rulers through mutual consent.What is “government by consent”?

What is “government by consent”?

Legitimate government must have the consent of the governed — power comes from the people, not divine right.

What is the Dissolution of Government, according to Locke?

If a government becomes tyrannical or violates natural rights, people have the right to revolt and establish a new one.

the impossibility of of basing government on simple self-interest

Locke

Used the term ____ to describe the urge in human beings to form soceity

compact

There is a social contract between people between and their government

Dissolution of government

If a government is tyrannical then it is the right of the people to establish a new government

Dissolution of government 2