Philosophers

Question 1

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 1

1) If people are left alone, they will constantly fight among themselves
2) Strict rules are needed to keep people in line
3) To escape the confusion that would result if they were left alone, people give up their freedom and enter into an agreement with a ruler who makes sure that there is peace and order
4) Once people have entered into this agreement or contract, they cannot rebel, even if the ruler turns out to be a bad one

Question 2

John Locke

Answer 2

1) People are basically reasonable and will co-operate with each other
2) Government is an agreement between a ruler and his people, but rulers can stay in power only so long as the people give their consent
3) If a ruler is a bad ruler, he has broken the basis of the contract and the people have the right to rebel against him.
4) People have basic rights – the right to life, liberty and property.

Question 3

Baron de Montesquieu

Answer 3

1. Government should be made up of three branches:
   Legislature – makes the laws
   King – enforces the laws
   Judiciary – interprets the laws
2. No one branch of government should dominate another. Check and balances are put in to make sure that this does not happen.

Question 4

Voltaire

Answer 4

Countries should have a strong ruler
Rulers should be well-educated and have studied the methods of good government
A good ruler was one who protected the basic rights of the people
Voltaire believed in religious toleration and freedom of thought

Question 5

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Answer 5

1) Human nature is basically good
2) Society and civilization change man from a noble savage (a pure being) into something bad. They corrupt man.
3) It is impossible for man to live in a natural state, i.e. without civilization and society but it is possible to make an ideal society.
4) In an ideal society, people form a community and make a contract with each other and not with a ruler.
5) People give up their individual freedom in favour of the decision of the majority. This decision of the majority is called general will.
6) In this democratic society, everyone gets to vote on all decisions and everyone accepts the community decision (the general will).
7) People are equal; therefore titles of rank and nobility should be abolished.