Unit 4/5 Philosphers Flashcards
What time period did Hobbes develop his therories in?
During civil wars, invasions and struggles between governments aka brutish times.
What did Hobbes believe: State of Nature?
ie. Natural rights
Each person has the natural right to everything regardless of others
Existence is brutish and nasty.
Laws are based on self preservation
What was Hobbes political theory?
Humans are set in motion by selfish desires
- seek things (ie. good) for self
interest yet are afraid of death
so form society
Gov works to protect competition that could arise and lead to murder.
Society is a transfer of rights to limit one’s rights in exchange for protection
- protection causes an obligation
to obey the ruler
Dictator gov (one person or group makes all the rules)
What is Lockes Tabula Rasa?
An empty slate
All knowledge comes from experience or perception
What was Locked political theory?
Equal distribution of resources
Surrender individual freedom to uphold natural law and property rights.
Biased to the rich and those that own property
Gov enforces rules and laws regarding property
Common good is served when gov protects private property
If leaders bad May overthrow (elections)
Liberal democracy
Explain Rousseaux political theory.
Humans are born free, good by nature, and inclined toward compassion.
Society corrupts us and makes us interdependent and competitive.
Gov creates laws for us to follow, we submit to general will of the public.
- when we submit to the general
will our rights are protected
We accept society only if it benefits us (the individual)
Everyone’s equal and bound to the social contract
What was Rawls theory of Justice?
Individual freedom is important and only accept what’s fair and just
Utilitarianism = bad
- values society over the individual
What was Rawls first principle of Justice?
Each person has rights and freedoms given equally.
- don’t sacrifice freedoms for the
common good
Individual liberty is restricted to ensure equality
What was Rawls second principle of Justice?
Economic and social inequalities are justified only if they benefit society and the disadvantaged/marginalized.
- an unjust law is better than
none at all
- injustice is tolerable if it avoids a
greater injustice
What was Lockes theory of Natural Law?
Natural law = Everyone is equal and free to act as long as they don’t interfere with others (and their rights).
