Quiz 1 Flashcards
How are Locke’s works relevant?
They help us to understand the US’s government principles
Who created the principles that would lead to the founding of the United States?
John Locke
Who influenced how everyone should think about gvmt?
Locke
How did Locke approach creating his principles?
Secularly
What was Locke’s solution to people living under regimes of religions that weren’t theirs?
Get rid of religious regimes
Why are absolute monarchs dangerous? (Locke)
1 person holds all the power
What does people’s security depend on? (Locke)
Equitable laws, which you can’t have with absolute monarchy
What did Locke say was the real reason that monarchies had power?
They were the strongest
What did Locke say about people who claimed authority from heritage?
No benefit or authority should come from the “foundation of all power.”
Did Locke believe we owe obedience based on strength?
No
What were the 2 theories on gvmt legitimacy?
Government is legitimate to the extent that it:
1. Treats everyone equally
2. Is accepted by the people
What did Locke say government and law exist to do/What was the basis for judging all gvmts?
- Preserve property, life, and liberty (Secure unalienable rights
- Defend from foreign attacks
- Serve the common good
Why do people consent to government? (Locke)
To have their rights protected
What is the state of nature? What are our relationships like?
No government, independence from all other people
What is the state of nature also called, and what does it look like?
The state of war, everyone is against each other
What is Hobbes’ view on humanity? What do we lack in this state?
We’ll kill each other to preserve ourselves, steal from others, and have no respect for others.
No safety, security, or peace
What did Locke believe we had to counter the state of nature? What did this say?
Law of nature- no one should harm another in life, liberty, or property
What does the law of nature enable you to do?
Everyone has the right to punish an offender
When is the law of nature given up?
When we consent to being governed
Why do we punish offenders? (Locke)
To get people to repent and to deter him and others from committing/repeating the offense
What did Hobbes say in regards to when people kill in a state of nature?
They kill out of necessity and revenge in a state of nature
Does partiality still exist with a state of government?
Yes, but hopefully to a lesser extent
What did Locke say needs to happen for a good government to deliver punishments?
They need to be objective
How do people react when being punished? What could go wrong when deciding punishments?
People refuse to accept punishments, and executioners can look for revente instead of reparations
What did Locke say about civil governments repairing issues?
They can do it in the state of nature and because we’re bad judges of ourselves
What is civil government?
The part of the state (excluding military) that enforces laws
Do we follow the law of nature in the state of nature?
No
What does Locke say about fighting off a thief? Can you do it?
Yes, because the government has failed to defend you and your rights are in danger. You’re acting to preserve yourself, not out of revenge.
What about rights makes government necessary? (Locke)
Their insecurity
Why can’t the government take away our rights? (Locke)
We have them before government and need government to secure them, which limits the actions they can take
What does a government’s legitimacy stem from? (Locke)
Securing its people’s rights and its jurisdiction
How do individual rights relate to other people?
Once they encroach on other people’s rights, it’s not okay
When can governments be dissolved?
For severe/repeated offenses
According to Locke, Is monarchy a legitimate form of government? Why?
No, it’s run by one person who has absolute power.
Can the government take away rights?
Not without good cause
What is the transitive statement that shows the importance of a right to property?
right to property=liberty
liberty=right to life
What is the definition of property? What conditions need to be met to make something yours? (Locke)
Something you add labor to (Labor+nature) that doesn’t take away from people’s security (can’t take away last apple on last apple tree)
How is waste treated according to the law of nature? (Locke)
Waste breaks the law of nature because someone else could have used it (implies scarcity_
How does the state of nature look economically?
Everyone is poor
What conditions need to be met for something to be yours according to Lockean principles?
There needs to be enough left and as good left for everyone else
Was Locke’s first definition of private property adequate? Why?
No, inadequate due to scarcity
What does the right to private property come from? (Locke)
Scarcity in the state of nature
Why is there no incentive for private property in the state of nature?
No protection for property offered
Why would people want to have property? (Locke)
Money- people want profit, and more land=more profit
Where does most of the profit for land come from? (Locke)
Labor- cultivating a plot of land means you add a TON of value to it
Benefits of cultivating land/private property (Locke)
-Enough food for everyone
-Less conflict
-A greater supply
-Encourages trade/bartering (limited by spoiling)
Why is money important?
-Creates a reason to produce materials
-Can be used for other thigns
-Increases food supply At least 1000 times
-More money=More products
What is a drawback of money, and how is this justified? (Locke)
How does a society with/without money compare?
Vast financial inequality, but major opportunities for advancement.
“King in America (society w/ no $) worse off than day laborer in England (society w/ $)
In a society with no money, the people at the top are worse off than the people at the bottom in a society with money
What is a major benefit of the rich producing a product and selling it to the poor? (Locke)
Everyone can get necessities because the rich want luxury.
Rich produce product, poor buy it. Rich get richer, poor have product.
What is Common Sense?
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine
What are the main point in Common Sense? (Paine)
Society and government are distinct and have different origins
Qualities of society (Paine)
Comes from our wants, creates happiness by “uniting affections”, encourages relations, blessing
Qualities of government (Paine)
Impedes happiness by restraining vices, creates distinctions, necessary evil at best, intolerable at worst, necessity caused by our lack of virtue
What is the true design and end of government, according to Paine?
Security
How to calculate most preferable form of government (Paine)
Lowest cost of security, greatest benefit to society
What are the qualities of the first government, as described by Paine?
-State house, everyone has a seat
-Laws are called regulations
-Laws only enforced through damaged reputation
According to Paine, what happens after 1st government is formed?
Increased #s mean not evreyone can meet, representatives are needed
(Paine) What makes a good representative?
They should act the same way the people they’re representing would, have the same concerns
