Political Ideals/Philosophies/Principles Summary

• Rule of Law: Everyone, including leaders and lawmakers, must follow the same laws, “no one is above the law.”

• Popular Sovereignty: A government's authority is created/sustained from the consent of the people.

• Consent of the Governed: A government is only legitimate if the people agree to its power.

• Equality Before the Law: Everyone is equally protected by the law, ensuring no one is privileged over others.

• Right to Revolution: People's authority to change or remove a government that harms their interests or safety unjustly.

• Natural Rights: Universal, fundamental, inalienable rights that cannot be taken away and aren’t dependent on government laws or customs.

• Social Contract: A theory that suggests individuals consent to give up some freedoms to the state for protection and social order.

Thomas Hobbes

• Political Ideals/Philosophies/Principles:

  • Rule of Law

  • Popular Sovereignty (“created once, but never overthrown”)

  • Consent of the Governed (“consent needed only once”)

  • Social Contract

• Hobbes's View of Human Nature: Humans are naturally selfish and prone to conflict (“state of nature”).

• State of Nature: Before governments, people lived in a state of war, with no security or progress.

• Social Contract: People agree to give up some rights and power to a government in exchange for protection.

• Leviathan: Hobbes advocated for a strong, central authority, like a monarchy, to maintain order.

• Focus on Order: Hobbes prioritized order and protection over individual rights.

John Locke

• Political Ideals/Philosophies/Principles:

  • Rule of Law

  • Popular Sovereignty

  • Consent of the Governed

  • Equality Before the Law

  • Right to Revolution

  • Natural Rights

  • Social Contract

• Locke's Influence: Locke's ideas influenced leaders like Thomas Jefferson and shaped the American Constitution.

• Tabula Rasa: People are born as blank slates and develop based on their experiences. 

• Natural Rights: People have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property.

• Purpose of Government: Governments should protect people's natural rights and end the state of nature. 

• Social Contract: Governments are legitimate only if they are based on a social contract with citizens.

Niccolò Machiavelli

• Political Ideals/Philosophies/Principles:

  • ??? Rule of Law (to an extent, not really though)

• Realism: Machiavelli believed in a pragmatic approach to politics, focusing on how the world actually works rather than idealistic notions.

• Power is Paramount: He argued that a ruler's authority comes from power, not morality.

• The End Justifies the Means: Machiavelli believed that any means, including immoral or cruel ones, can be justified as long as they serve the ultimate goal of maintaining power.

• Terror as a Tool of Control: He advocated for rulers to keep their subjects afraid and fearful to ensure obedience.

• Checks and Balances: Machiavelli supported a system of checks and balances within the government to limit the power of any individual or group.

• Popular Sovereignty: He believed that people, not rulers, should have the ultimate authority in government (formerly a supporter of monarchy, now a republican).

Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu:

• Political Ideals/Philosophies/Principles:

  • Rule of Law

  • Equality Before the Law

• Liberty: Montesquieu believed that true liberty comes from safety and security, which can only be achieved through clear and enforced laws.

• Separation of Powers: He advocated for dividing government into branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent the concentration of power and protect individual liberties.

• Checks and Balances: Montesquieu proposed that each branch of government should have the ability to limit the power of the others, ensuring a balanced system.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Political Ideals/Philosophies/Principles:

  • Rule of Law

  • Popular Sovereignty

  • Consent of the Governed

  • Equality Before the Law

  • Social Contract 

• Social Contract: Rousseau believed that governments should be based on an agreement between the people and their rulers, where people give up some natural freedoms in exchange for protection and security (“social freedom”).

• General Will: He argued that governments should follow the general will, which is what is best for society as a whole. 

• Direct Democracy: Rousseau advocated for a system where all citizens are directly involved in making laws and running the government.