The Modern Political Philosophy of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau

Vocabulary flashcards covering enlightenment political philosophies (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau), forms of democracy, and foundational political concepts from the readings.

Thomas Hobbes

A British philosopher (1588–1679) who advocated for absolute monarchies, arguing that the strong naturally prey on the weak and that individuals must relinquish their rights through a social contract to receive protection from a sovereign.

Leviathan

A 1651 book written by Thomas Hobbes portraying the difficulty of individual survival and asserting that without an absolute monarch, human life in state of anarchy is "solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short."

John Locke

An English philosopher (1632–1704) who systematically rejected the divine right of kings, argued that individuals possess natural rights, and asserted that people have a right to rebel if government fails to protect those rights.

Two Treatises on Civil Government

A 1689 work by John Locke in which the first treatise rejected scripture as a basis for the divine right of kings, and the second treatise argued that individuals possess unalienable rights to life, liberty, and property.

Natural Rights

Also called unalienable rights, identified by John Locke as life, liberty, and property; inherent rights that government can neither bestow nor take away.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A French philosopher (1712–1778) who expanded on Locke's social contract theory by stating that governments formed by social contract rely on popular sovereignty.

Popular Sovereignty

The theory that government is created by the people and depends on the people for the authority to rule.

Social Contract Theory

A theory assuming individuals possess free will, the God-given right of self-determination, and the ability to consent to be governed, forming the theoretical framework of the Declaration of Independence.

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine that a monarch's authority to rule is granted by God/scripture, a concept rejected by political philosophers like Locke in favor of the principle that people can govern themselves.

Direct Democracy

Also known as participatory democracy; a structure of government in which citizens discuss and decide policy through majority rule, which emerged in New England town meetings.

Indirect Democracy

Also known as representative democracy; a structure of government in which citizens elect representatives who decide policies on their behalf.

Town Meetings

Local gatherings in New England where a form of direct (participatory) democracy emerged, allowing citizens to discuss and decide policy through majority rule.