Exam 2 Flashcards
How does Hobbes describe life in the state of nature? Does Hobbes believe that any kind of natural law or justice exists in the state of nature and why?
state of nature - no security from each other, every man is against themselves
if you have a good harvest, it is likely to be destroyed
no power to appeal to - poor, nasty, brutish, and short
no justice/law in the state of nature bc there is no common power to enforce
According to Hobbes, what is the “Leviathan”? What “covenant” or agreement brings it into being and what purpose does it serve?
Leviathan - government that gets established when people come together to form a commonwealth
Covenant/agreement that brings it into being:
- Individuals come together and agree to give up their right to self-governance who will take up their right of governing
Serves the purpose to give people peace and security -Leviathan takes us out of the state of nature and grants us peace and security
What reasons does Locke give for denying that there is any such thing as a “divine right” of kings via the power given to Adam by the Christian God?
- Adam didn’t have authority over his children - adam wasn’t given that right to rule
- Even If he had that right, his heirs would not have the right to that
- Even if the heirs had the right, there were no line of succession established
- If succession established, it’s been too long since line of Adam that we have no idea who that correct heir would be today
What does Locke believe is the state of nature for human beings? What is the law of nature within that state?
Without government in the state of nature, power is reciprocal and there is perfect freedom and you are free to live however you deem fit
No one person has more power than another, so everyone is equal
law of nature exists:
We have no right to something that is someone else’s, and there is no harm to be done to others
We cannot use others for our own means because they are just as equal as we are
What, according to Locke, is political power?
Ability to create laws only if they are benefitting the common good
Making and enforcement of laws if for common good
according to Locke, why do governments come into existence?
People have the right to enforce the laws of nature, but we have the tendency to be self-interested
Bc of that self-interest and we aren’t always sober judges on our own case, a government can come into place to make judgments on disputes
promotes fairness among society
Describe the connection between political power and the origin of governments?
Political power originates from the consent of the governed, with individuals agreeing to form governments in order to protect their natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
The government’s authority is based on the social contract, where people willingly surrender some freedoms in exchange for security and protection
Locke contends that both natural reason and revelation indicate that the goods of the Earth belong to humankind and belong to them in common. If that is true, then how does he justify the ownership of private property?
Mixing labor with something makes it your property bc your labor is an extension of yourself, and people have ownership of their own selves
Work is extending yourself into that of what you’ve worked upon, thus making it yours
Describe at least one of the two limitations that Locke discusses on the amount of property that someone is allowed to own.
Limitation 1: there should be as much and as good left for others
Limitation 2: your property only extends to which you can use
How does Montesquieu describe life in the state of nature?
In the state of nature - people are very fearful in the beginning, everything makes them tremble and flee
In this state, each man feels inferior to each other and no superiority has developed
1st and 4th laws of nature according to montesquieu
1st law: peace, bc fearful of everyone, fights don’t break out
4th law: desire to live in a society, we like others, lose timidity, we recognize we can learn from each other
According to Montesquieu, what causes us to leave the state of nature and form societies and what, in turn, causes governments to form?
What causes us to join society = fourth law, we can learn from others, we have a natural tendency to join others
Equality is gone once society is formed and all feelings of inferiority are lost - government is used to combat these forces of inequality
Laws come into existence to maintain society and
Government rescues the people from a state of war
spring of government for republic
virtue
Why? Love of equality gives government ability to enact rules, individuals prioritize common good over private interests
According to Montesquieu, what are the three kinds of government?
Republic, Despotic, Monarchical
spring of government for despotic
fear
Why? Individuals are fearful of not following the rules
“If you don’t follow the rules, you die”
spring of government for monarchical government
force of princes arms
Why? - honor - through military power rules are enforced in a structured way
what is “virtue” according to montesquieu
Virtue → love of the homeland and love for equality
Intent of laws developed so that it benefits the common good
According to Montesquieu, what is liberty?
Liberty → ability to act according to one’s own will within the boundaries of the law
ability to do whatever the law permits
What is political liberty according to montesquieu
Political liberty - feeling of safety and security that one citizen cannot harm another citizen
Trust and security
Safety of a sound government and system of checks and balances
Feel secure to do what laws permit
How does Montesquieu believe the government should be structured so as to preserve liberty and why?
checks and balances - separation of powers
if there is a single entity that has all powers, they can make, interpret, and enforce the laws
They could decide that what was lawful yesterday is not lawful today and that it was true
Describe two aspects of life in the state of nature according to Rousseau.
Solitary, focused on survival, lived with intent to accomplish day-to-day needs
We are all equal in the fact that we are free from social hierarchies, laws, or property ownership
Describe two reasons why we left the state of nature according to Rousseau.
The Development of Private Property: As humans began to claim ownership of land and resources, the idea of private property emerged, leading to competition, jealousy, and inequality.
We come together for initial tasks, and as time goes on we more and more find ourselves in particular groups and eventually idea is that we are just in small societies within one another
Describe two aspects of the origin of inequality according to Rousseau.
First inequality - inequality of social status (some can dance and sing better than others)
- Once we become to live together, we begin to compare ourselves to others, leads to competition, community → competition
People first become to declare that “thing belongs to me”
- Once property gets to be established, inequality comes to be bc people don’t have the same amount, as good as…
- some people become lucky
why does Rousseau believe governments come into existence and what does he assert to be the role or purpose of government?
Rich step in to establish governments to “unite for the common good” and promote liberty for all
Role of government
Protects wealth of wealthy and gives poor more obstacles
