PS112B final exam term significance

term significance

Authorization- Hobbes, Leviathan

political obligation: subjects are responsible for what the sovereign does and therefore cannot justly rebel, since they have authorized his actions

Covenant vs Contract- Hobbes, Leviathan

this distinction explains why absolute sovereignty is necessary, only a powerful sovereign can enforce covenants and secure peace

SoN- Hobbes

justifies the creation of absolute sovereignty and shows why peace requires submission to authority

Law of Nature- Hobbes, Leviathan

although discoverable by reason, [this term] is ineffective without political authority, reinforcing hobbes argument for sovereignty

Fiduciary power/Trust- Locke, Second Treatise

this concept grounds Lockes theory of limited government and justified resistance when rulers betray that trust

Labor Theory of Property- Locke, Second Treatise

explains moral origin of property and underlies Locke’s defence of individual rights and consent based government

Tacit consent- Locke, Second Treatise

allows locke to explain political obligation without requiring explicit consent from every individual

General Will- Rousseau, social contract

allows rousseau to reconcile freedom and authority: obeying the general will is obedience to onself as a citizen

Amout-Propre- Rousseau, Discourse on Inequality

explains moral corruption and inequality in modern society and motivates rousseau’s critique of civilization

Autonomy- Rousseau

distinguishes thinkers idea of freedom from liberal notions of non-interferences

Virtu and Fortune- Machiavelli, The Prince

together they explain political success without reliance on moral virtue, marking machiavellis break from classical ethics

Despotism- Montesquieu, Spirit of the Laws

Supports thinkers argument for moderate government and separation of powers