Up to Exam 2 Flashcards
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
Father of Modern Political Theory
Born: Florence may 3rd 1496 died June 21 1527 in Florence also
Political philosopher statesmen secretary of the Florence republic
Family was wealthy and prominent
Father: Bernado. Was a lawyer but was barred from public office in Florence because of debt
At 29, he became head of the second Chancery, a post that placed him in charge of the Republic’s foreign affairs in subject territories (held until 1512)
During his tenure at the second chancery, Machiavelli persuaded Soderini to reduce the city’s reliance on mercenary forces by establishing a militia (1505)
saved the country a lot of money
Faked his own death
What was Machiavelli’s dedication of the Prince
a letter to Lorenzo de medici, who was the nephew of Giovnabni de’ Medici and became duke of Urbino in 1516. Machiavelli offers his book with customary humility, commenting that it is stylistically simple and unworthy of his audience. Machiavelli describes his book as a dummy of his “understanding the deeds of great men” intended to help Lorenzo de’ Medici achieve eminence as a prince.
ordinary citizen’s perspective according to M
offers a short defense of why he, an ordinary citizen, should know more than rulers about the art of ruling. He uses a metaphor to justify himself: a person standing on a mountain is best positions to survey the landscape the mountain.
To comprehend fully the nature of people, one must be a prince, and to comprehend fully the nature of princes, one must be an ordinary.
The removed perspective of an observer is a more reliable guide than practical experience, and a better mean of improving the art of ruling
the citizen that is removed has a better perspective on how one should rule.
What was the purpose of the prince?
though the book has a scholarly tone, it is not for fellow scholars. A practical how to guide for aspiring princes.
Chapter 1 the Prince
how many kinds of states are there? how many types of principality are there? how are they acquired?
Describes the different kinds of states, arguing all states are either republics or principalities.
Principalities can be decided into hereditary principalities or new principalities.
New principalities are either completely new or new appendages to existing states.
It is by fortune or strength, a prince can acquire a new principality with hi own army or with the arms of others
Chapter 2 The Prince
intro
first of three chapters focusing on methods to govern and maintain principalities. dismisses any discussion of republics, explaining that he has “discussed them at length on another occasion”
Chapter 2 The Prince
on Hereditary Principalities
Notes that it is easier to govern a hereditary state than a new principality for two main reasons.
First, those under the rule of such states are familiar with he prince’s family and are therefore accustomed to their rule. The natural prince only has to keep past institutions intact, while adapting these institutions to current events.
Second, the natural disposition of subjects in a hereditary state is to love the ruling family, unless the prince commits some horrible act against his people.
Even if a strong outsider succeeds in conquering a prince’s hereditary state, and setback the outsider encounters will allow the prince to reconquer the state.
Chapter 3 the prince
On Mixed Principalities
why is maintaining a new principality more difficult than maintaining a hereditary state?
explains why maintaining a new principality is more difficult than maintaining a hereditary state.
people will willingly trade one recently arrived ruler for another, hoping that a new ruler will be better than the present one.
this expectation of improvement will induce people to take up arms against any relatively unestablished prince. Although the people may quickly realize that their revolt is ineffective, they will still create great disorder.
Incumbants
Chapter 3 the Prince
honeymoon period and its constitutes
when a prince takes over another prince’s domain, he finds himself in a tricky situation with regard to the people who put him In power.
He cannot maintain the support of these people because he cannot fulfill all of their expectations that their situation will improve.
But he also cannot deal too harshly with them because he is in their debt. Immediately after taking power, the prince is in danger of losing his newly gained principality.
Chapter 3 the Prince
revolt
when a price successfully suppresses a revolt, however, the ruler can easily prevent further revolt by harshly punishing the rebels and decimating his opposition.
treat the revolters as harshly as he can.
The ruler can deal more harshly with his subjects in response to the revolt than he would be able to normally.
Chapter 3 The Prince
maintaining control of a new principality
It is much easier to maintain control over a new principality if the people shred’s the same language and customs as the prince’s own country.
If this is the case, the prince has to do only two things: Destroy the family of the former prince, and maintain the principality’s laws and taxes. People will leave quietly and peacefully so long as their old ways of life are undisturbed.
Chapter 3 The Prince
living in the state
language and cutstoms
new states have different languages and customs from those of the prince are more difficult to maintain. One of the prince’s most effective options is to take up residence in the new state.
By living there, the prince can address problems quickly and efficiently. He can prevent the local officials from plundering his territory. The subjects will be in close contact with the prince.
Therefore those who are inclined to be good will have more reason to show their allegiance to the prince and those who are inclined to be bad will have more reason to fear him. Invaders will think twice before attempting to take over the state.
Chapter 3
colonies, pampered or crushed, military bases
another effective method of dealing with linguistic and cultural differences: less expensive to establish colonies in the new state than military occupation
stop worrying about poor people
men must either be pampered or crushed. a prince should injure people only if he knows there is no threat of revenge.
military bases throughout the state will not keep order, instead, just piss off the people
Chapter 3
neighboring states
A prince who has occupied a state in a foreign country should dominate the neighboring states. He should weaken the strong ones and ensure that Ono other strong foreign power invades a neighboring state.
Weaker powers will naturally side with the strongest power as long as they cannot grow strong themselves. The prince must remain master of the whole country to keep control of the state he has conquered.
Chapter 3
princes should do what about problems in the state
what is mans natural want?
PRINCES SHOULD ALWAYS ACT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS BEFORE PROBLEMS FULLY MANIFEST THEMSELVES. Political disorders are easy to solve if the prince identifies the and acts early. If they are allowed to develop fully, it will be too late.
men naturally was to acquire more. when they succeed in acquiring more they are always praised not condemned. But rulers who lack the ability to acquire, yet still try at the cost of their current state, should be condemned
chapter 4
Why the kingdom of Darius, which Alexander Occupied, did not rebel against his successors after Alexander’s death
2 ways to govern a principality.
The first is a prince and appointed ministers. while the ministers help govern, everyone remains subservient to the prince.
The second way involves the prince and nobles. Nobles are not appointed by the Prince, but they benefit from their ancient lineage and have subjects of their own.
Of both these scenarios, the prince is regarded as being much stronger if he uses ministers, since he is the only ruler in the country
chapter 4
nobles vs ministers
It is much harder to take over a country if a prince uses ministers because ministers have little incentive to be corrupted by foreign powers or to turn on their prince. Furthermore, even if they were to turn against the prince, they would not be able to muster support from any subjects because they hold no persona loyalties. It is easier to conquer a country governed with the cooperation of nobles, because finding a discontented noble eager for change is always possible. Moreover, nobles command the loyalty of their own subjects, so a corrupted noble will corrupt the support of his subjects.
Chapter 4
contd.
although it is easier to take over a state ruled by nobles, it is much harder to maintain control of that state. In a state ruled by nobles, it is not enough to kill the former ruler’s family, because the nobles will still be around to revolt. Holding onto a state with ministers is much easier, because it merely requires killing off the one prince and his family.
Chapter 4
Machiavelli asserts that the rules he proposes are consistent with historical evidence, such as Alexander’s successful conquest of Asia and the rebellions agains the Romans in Spain, France and Greece.
One must look at the way other countries approached a situation.
summary
the first step in his argument is to establish the terms and categories that he will use to make sense out of the multitude of different political situations that exist in the real world. The clear-cut distinctions Machiavelli makes between different kind of states, beginning with principalities and republics- are very effective insofar as they enable him to present his ideas clearly and concisely. Whether his categories do justice to the complexity of political history isa different question. Machiavelli creates an impression of directness and practicality by presenting the world in simple, clear defined terms.
Chapter 5
How you should govern cities or kingdoms before you acquire them, lived under their own laws
THREE WAYS
Machiavelli describes three ways to hold states that have been accustomed to living freely under their own laws.
The first is to devastate them.
The second is for the conqueror to occupy them.
The third is to allow the state to maintain its own laws, but to charge taxes and establish an oligarchy to keep the state friendly.
the third option is advantageous because the newly imposed oligarchy will work hard to secure the authority of the conquering prince within the conquered state because it owes its existence to the prince and cannot survive without his support. Thus, as long as the goal is not to devastate the other state, it is easiest to rule it through the use of its own citizens
It is very important to allow people to keep their own rules
Chapter 5
in states that have been free in the past (republics)
complete destruction is the most certain way of securing a state that has been free in the past. A prince who does not take this route places himself in a position to be destroyed himself. No matter how long it has been since the state was acquired, rebellions will always revive the legacy of ancient institutions and notions of former liberty, even if the state has benefited from the prince’s rule. This sense of tradition will unify the people against the prince.
Chapter 5
Accustomed to being ruled
On the other hand, cities or provinces that are accustomed to being ruled by a prince are easy to take over once the ruling family has been destroyed. People ins such states are accustomed to obedience and do not know how to live in freedom without having someone to rule over them.
Chapter 5
in republics
in republics (or former republics, sentiments of hatred and revenge against the conquering prince will run strong. the memories of ancient liberty never die, so a prince will be better off destroying the republic or personally occupying the conquered state
President trump coming in after president Obama
Chapter 6
about new kingdoms acquired with one’s own armies and one’s own skill
princes should strive to imitate the examples set by great rulers of the past even if that means getting lofty goals. this way f a prince fails to meet those lofty goals, his actions will nevertheless enhance his reputation as a great or powerful ruler.
Chapter 6
one way that rulers acquire states is through their own abilities rather than the good fortune of noble birth, inheretance, or lucky circumstances. Relying on one’s personal prowess is a very difficult method of acquiring a state. However, a state acquired by a ruler’s natural skill will prove easier to maintain control over. Examples of rulers who triumphed on the strength of their own powers include Moses, Cyrus, Romulus and Theseus.
chapter 7***
he wiped out disloyal troops and established a loyal army, and he maintained a friendly yet cautious relationship with other kings and prices. he was unable to complete the consolidation of his power when his father died**
chapter 8
of those who come to power through wicked actions
Machiavelli continues to describe the ways that a man can become a prince. In addition to fortune and prowess, criminal acts or the approval of his fellow citizens can facilitate a man’s rise to power.
those who come to power by crime kill fellow citizens and betray friends. they are treacherous, pitiless, and irreligious. princes who commit criminal acts can achieve power, bit never glory.
Chapter 6
Rulers who rely on prowess instead of fortune are generally more successful in holding power over states because they can meet the challenge of establishing a new order. Nothing is more dangerous or difficult that introducing a new order. This is because those who benefited from the old order will fiercely oppose the prince who tries to introduce a new order. A prince who relies on his ability to persuade others to support him will be unable to succeed against such opposition. However, a prince who relies on his own prowess and can force the issue will usually succeed. At times, forcing the issue might literally mean the use of force. This can be dangerous, but if the ruler succeeds in his use of force, he will become strong, secure and respected.
Chapter 7
About new principalities that are acquired with the forces of others
Sometimes private citizens become princes purely by good fortune. Such people buy their way into power, receive favors from someone else in power, or bribe soldiers. such princes are weak not only because fortune can be capricious and unstable, but also because they do not know how to maintain their position.
buy their way or a favor doesn’t mean they can’t lead, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t lead
chapter 7
a prince must do _____ win favor followers
Laying a solid foundation is a crucial prerequisites for maintaining power.
eliminate rival leaders and win the favor of their followers.
Chapter 8
wicked actions
all at once
therefore when a prince decided to seize a state, he must determine how much injury to inflict. He needs to strike all at once and then refrain from further atrocities. In this way, his subjects will eventually forget about the violence and cruelty and gradually resentment will fade.
Most important, a prince should be consistent in the way he treats his subjects.
Chapter 9
of the citizen ruler
a prince can come to power through the favor of his fellow citizens. princes who rise through this route are heads of what mach calls constitutional principality
common people, noble people
Common people are disposed to avoid domination and oppression of the nobles
Chapter 9
the power to form a principality lies with either the nobles or the people. If the nobles realize they cannot dominate the people, they will try to strengthen their position by making one of the nobles a prince. they hope to accomplish their own ends through the prince’s authority. the people will follow the same course of action if they realize they cannot withstand the nobles, they will make one of the people a prince and hope to be protected by the prince’s authority.
chapter 9
a prince placed in power by nobles will find it more difficult to maintain his position because those who surround him will consider themselves his equals and his selection as prince arbitrary. However, aprince created by the people stands alone at the top.
Jot only are nobles much harder to satisfy than the people, they are less honest in their motives because they seek to oppress the people.
the people, on the other hand, only seek to be left alone
Nobles are astute and cunning and always safeguard their own interests.
Chapter 10
how one should measure the strength of a rules
although a prince should always aim to keep an army of size and strength equaling that of any aggressor it is just as important to maintain defenses and fortifications. These defensive preparations not only provide security but also deter enemies from attacking.
chapter 10
Some might argue that if an enemy lays siege to a fortified city, the people inside, upon witnessing their countryside pillaged and possessions destroyed, will turn against their prince. But a prince who has made adequate defensive preparations can actually inspire his subjects during such times. To do so, he must convince the people that the hardships are only temporary and create feelings of patriotism. when the siege is over the grateful and obliged people will love the prince all the more
Chapter 12
three types of armies
princes own troops
mercenary troops
auxiliary troops
merc and auxiliary useless and dangerous “disunited, undisciplined, ambitious and faithless” because their only motivation is monetary. low moral
unskilled commanders are worthless, but skilled commanders cannot be trusted to suppress their own ambition
it is far more preferable for a prince to command his own army
chapter 12
mercenaries
big risk to hire mercenaries
since the mercenaries were more concerned with increasing their own prestige and status than with taking risks or accomplishing military objectives, the conflicts between these mercenary forces devolved into a series of ineffective, staged, pseudo-battles, ultimately degrading Italy’s political and military might.
Chapter 13
aux troops, native troops and composite armies
auxiliary troops- armies borrowed from a more powerful state- are useless as mercenaries. they often fight well, but using auxiliaries places himself in a no win situation. if the aug fail, he is defenseless
Aux troops’ loyalty is to another ruler
worse to hire aux than mercenary
Chapter 13
if a prince does not command his own native troops, the principality can never be secure. depending on outside armies is Essen the same as depending good fortune. the use of auxiliaries and mercenaries is effective during prosperous times, but in times of adversity, reliance on borrowed troops, like reliance on fortune, is a perilous liability.
chapter 14
what a ruler should do as regards the militia
the only thing a prince needs to study is the art of war. this is the primary discipline of the ruler. mastery of this discipline can make even a common citizen a great ruler. the easiest way to lose a state is by neglecting the art of war. the best way to win a state is to be skilled in the art of war.
chapter 16
on generosity and parsimony
liberality or generosity is a quality that many men admire. but if a prince develops a reputation for generosity, he will ruin his state. a reputation for generosity requires outward lavishness, which eventually depletes all of the prince’s resources. in the end, the prince will be forced to burden his people with excessive taxes in order to raise the money to maintain his preparation for generosity. ultimately, the princes liberality will make the people despise and resent him. Moreover, any prince will attempts to change his reputation for generosity will immediately develop a reputation for generosity
John Locke
Aug. 29 1632- Oct. 28, 1704
often referred to as the Father of Liberalism
He inspired both the European Enlightenment and the US constitution
Locks political thought was grounded in the notion of a social contract between citizens and in the importance of “toleration” especially in matters of religion.
Locke’s political philosophy was guided by his deeply held religious commitments.
God and religion according to Locke
Locke was a devoutly religious man.
Lockes idea of equality in the state of nature relies upon a certain christian theological context
god created humans or a certain purpose namely to live a life according to his laws and thus to inherit eternal salvation; God gave humans just those intellectual and other abilities necessary to achieve this end.
Humans using the capacity of Reason, are able to discover that God exists, to identify his laws and duties they entail, and to acquire sufficient knowledge to perform their duties and thereby to lead a happy and successful life
Locke believed that the right to life and liberty are inalienable, meaning they cannot be waived or transferred or waived, because we belong to God.
Our rights to life, liberty property and health can be forfeited however, when one kills or allows ourselves to be killed or submit to slavery that would be in violation of God’s rights he gave to us. “do not harm another in his life, liberty, health or possessions”
Lockes definition of political power
Locke defines political power as a right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently, all less penalties for the regulation and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community in execution of such laws and in defense of the common-wealth from foreign injury and all this only for the public good
Lockes definition of political power has an immediate moral dimension. It is a right of making laws and enforcing them for the public good. power for Locke never simply means capacity but always morally sanctioned capacity
morality pervades the whole arrangement of society, and it is this fact, tautologically, that makes society legitimate.
Locke would be a conservative today because of his views on political power and property rights
state of nature according to Locke
what society would be like if all political and legal institutions were to disappear.
humans are entirely free
a state of perfect freedom and equality
there is no political superior and inferior, that would be unnatural.
that relationship only exists if it is created by free and voluntary consent.
with that being said, there is a natural superior and inferior relationship between child an son. no consent is required there but it is in political relationships
one enjoys the right to life, liberty, health and property in the state of nature AS WELL as the right to punish anyone who transgresses the law of nature and to exact compensation from those who have violated one’s own natural rights.
laws of nature (three)
The state of nature is not state of complete license, because it is set within the bounds of the law of nature.
ALL ABOUT SELF PRESERVATION
preserve yourself
do not harm others
help others if you can, but only if you do not harm yourself
don’t harm another in his life, liberty health or possessions
natural laws forbid us to violate others natural rights
This is self evident. pre legal and moral right. inalienable
each person is naturally free and equal under the law of nature. each person is required to enforce as well as to obey this law. it is this duty that gives to humans the right to punish offenders. it is obvious that placing the right to punish in each persons hands may lead to injustice and violence. This can be remedied if humans enter into a contract with each other to recognize by common consent a civil government with the power to enforce the law of nature among the citizens of that state
at some point, humans will want to punish those who they felt have done wrong to them even in a state of nature
injustice cannot be tolerated
need of a civil government
Locke
social contract
although any contract is legitimate as long as it does not infringe upon the last of nature, it often happens that a contract can be enforced only if there is some higher human authority to require compliance with it
it is a primary function of society to set up the framework in which legitimate contracts, freely entered into, may be enforced a state of affairs much more difficult to guarantee in the state of nature and outside civil society
you must have some form of government or structure otherwise it will deteriorate into chaos.
hoarding and property (fruit)
each person is entitles to as much of the product of his labor as he needs to survive. in the state of nature NO ONE IS ENTITLED TO HOARD SURPLUS PRODUCE ONE MUST SHARE WITH THE LESS FORTUNATE
the introduction of money, while radically changing the economic base of society, was itself a contingent development for money has no inartistic value but depends for its utility only on convention
acquire as much as you want but do not be a hoarder
organization of government according to Locke
in the community created by the social contract, the will of the majority should prevail, subject to he law of nature. The legislative body is central, but it cannot create laws that violate the law of nature, because the enforcement of the natural law regarding life, liberty, and property is the rationale of the whole system. Laws must apply equitably to all citizens and not favor particular sectional interests, and there should be a division of legislative, executive, and judicial powers
John Locke: taxes and force
the legislature may, with the agreement of the majority, impose such taxes as are required to fulfill the ends of the state- including its defense. if the executive power fails to provide the conditions by which the people can enjoys their rights under natural law, then the people are entitled to remove him by force if necessary. revolution, in extremis, is permissible
extra bits about John Locke
his integration of individualism within the framework of the law of nature and his account of the origins and limits of legitimate governmment authority inspired the US DOE and Constitution.
GW saw him as the greatest man that ever lived.
Lockean principles are found in Declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen and other justifications of the French Revolution
Copies of Lockes work
DOE
US consitiution
Thomas jefferson
considered an honorary founding father of america
advocates the natural liberty and equality of human beings
“our natural rights” to life liberty and estate of property
Legitimate government is _____ according to Locke
Legitimate government is government by consent and limited
Federalism
Limited government constituted by a separation of powers
US separation of powers - branches of government
locke was an advocate of
Religious toleration
what to do when governments become oppressive or abusive of natural rights?
people have a right to Revolution
Lockes process of domestication
two treaties locke set out his own positive theory of government
written shortly before the whig revolution of 1688
locke sets out: parliamentary supremacy rule of law constitutional government
Was two t written for ordinary or states
two t was meant to be a practical book written in everyday language
wrote two treaties in way to make common people think this is what I believed all along
Master of Taciturnity
say as least as possible and as directly as possible
Oxford peeps said that’s how locke was
Lockes Theory of Natural law (four items)
the state of nature is not a condition of ruling and being ruled
the state of nature is not a political condition
the state of nature is a condition of perfect
freedom- a condition without civil authority or civil obligation
the state of nature is a thought experiment
what is human nature like in the absence of authority according to locke?
the state of nature is not an amoral condition, it is a moral condition. it is governed by a moral law or natural law that dictates peace and sociability
there is a moral law of nature that dictates no one should harm another in their life, liberty or possessions
all civil authority has its foundation in a law of reason that is knowable by virtue of our rational capacities alone
Self-preservation according to Locke
the law of nature declares that we are all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise maker and as products of divine workmanship, we ought never to harm anyone in their lives liberties or possessions
this turn into a right of self-preservation
the state of nature is a condition without civil authority
the law of nature has no person or office to oversee its enforcement or its application
the state of nature is a condition of peace and mutual distrust
State of nature degenerates into a civil war and then
the state of nature degenerates into a condition of Civil War where every individual serves as a judge Jury and E
in the state of nature, eventually it’ll be EVERYMAN FOR HIMSELF
Section 11 Locke
the damnified person has this power of appropriating to himself
because you have offended me, I have a right to your good and services because I am trying to exercise my self preservation.
you are trying to preserve all man kind when you do this because you are preventing that person from doing it again
If you feel you have been wronged in the State of Nature you have according to Natural law the right to appropriate to you self the goods or services of the offender (to take from them their goods and property whatever you feel appropriate)
Everyone becomes a judge jury and executioner
WHAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF NATURE IS (according to Locke)
SELF PRESERVATION
Section 16
one may destroy a man who makes war upon him or has discovered an enmity to his being for the same way or reason you would kill a lion or a bear. if men are not under the ties of the common law of reason have no other rule but that of force and violence and so may be treated as beasts
kill or be killed
this is what we are to one another
Locke comparing humans and animals
human beings can degenerate into beastial behavior
the freedoms we enjoy in the state of nature leads us to abuse those freedoms
this forms that bases of Civil Government
one must question whether the natural condition is one overseen by a moral law of justifying (for the peace you are peace you are supposed to live in, justifying why you can harm one because they harmed your peace)or sanctifying peace and security or whether Locke’s state of nature is simply all against all
Locke Chapter 5
Scholars argue Chapter 5 sums up Locke’s political theory
human being is a property acquiring animal
our claim to property derive from our work. labor confers value and is the source of all values
the state of nature is given to all men in common
parts of something only become private property when we add labor to it.
Section 27 Locke
every man has a property in hi sown person
you are born with property, this no body has any right to put himself
the labor of his body, and the work of his hands, we may same, are properly his
we all come into the world with certain property (ourselves)
whatsoever that he removes out of the state of nature(private property), and hath provided, and left in it he hath
work for property, join it into society, then its yours
you can do this because god has provided you with your body which is what can give you anything you can do
Section 28 ownership Locke
and it is plain if the first gathering made them not his, not thing else could. that labor put a distinction between them and common that added something
Ownership then becomes a right. the ability to secure that right becomes the genesis pot why governments are established
rational and free people agree to be governed to protect their right to property
According to Locke the world was created in order to be cultivated and improved
those who work through their labor are the true benefactors of humankind and humanity
the harder you work, the more you achieve
Section 34 Locke
Just because god gave you all this land and world to be used doesn’t mean you should
he gave it to the use of the industrious and rational not to the fancy or covetousness of the quarrelsome and contentious
Locke suggests the state will be a commercial state
there are no natural limits to property acquisition
the introduction of money/coinage makes unlimited capital accumulation not only possible but a moral duty
Locke enriching and benefiting others
by enriching ourselves we unintentionally work for the benefit of others
don’t let anyone let you feel like you’re too wealthy
trickle down economics
lifted moral and political limits on labor
Section 37 Locke
labor and plots of land
you could cultivate one acre of cultivated land are ten times more than those which are yeilded by an acre of land of an equal rate
I have here rated the improved land very low in making its product but as ten to one when it is much nearer an hundred to one
labor is that important
Section 43 Locke
what brings value to one’s land?
an are of land that bears twenty bushels of where would without doubt of the same natural intrinsic
it is labor then which puts the greatest part of the value upon land
the lands means nothing until you work it
it is worthless unless you put some labor toward it
James Madison Federalist No. 10 and Locke
The second expedient is an impracticable as the first would be unwise. As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love
The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the posession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results
the harder I work, Im going to live in a different class. we all have a different light in life that depends on how much that we work with our hands
the only reason you’ll have government is to protect property that we have used our hands to we all want as much as we possibly can
James Madison Federalist No. 10 and Locke
The second expedient is an impracticable as the first would be unwise. As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love
The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the posession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results
the harder I work, Im going to live in a different class. we all have a different light in life that depends on how much that we work with our hands
the only reason you’ll have government is to protect property that we have used our hands to we all want as much as we possibly can
chapter 1-5 Locke
State of nature, state of war creation of private property
by the end of the fifth chapter we have the foundation for a full scale market economy within the state of nature
people argue that Locke is re-writing the account of Hyman beginning
in the state of nature man is a property acquiring animal an acquisitive animal
Why do we need government and politics according to Locke?
the problem for locke recognizes in the state of nature is its inherent “instability” with no civil authority
the peaceful ability to enjoy one’s property is continually threatened by War and Conflict
the need for government arises out for the need to resolve disputes of property rights
I worked so hard for this property that I am always anxious about this property being taken away
everything is a part of your person is a part of your property
the need for government is to figure out disputes with your property
“the great and chief end of man’s uniting into commonwealth is the protection of their property”
the purpose of politics was the protections of property rights according to Locke. Property is rooted in our persons our bodies not just objects we turn into property
we all begin life with a rudimentary property within ourselves. Property is everything that encompasses our lives, liberties and possessions. Property is hence things property to us
Uncertainty in the state of nature according to Locke
Locke emphasizes the uncertainty of the state of nature
“life is full of fears and continual dangers that lead us to civil association”
The state of nature is a condition continually beset by unease and anxiety (inconveniences)
By the end of the fifth chapter….
By the end of the fifth chapter we have a kind of full-scale sophisticated Market Economy replete with various inequalities of wealth and property
restlessness and uneasiness in the state of nature Locke
it is our unease our restlessness that is not only a spur to our labor but is rather the cause of our insecurities that we have in the state of nature
perpetually anxious character of human beings in the state of nature
this restlessness and uneasiness represent the qualities of a new class- a commercial class
industrious and the rational according to Locke
a new middle class who’s title to rule rests no ton heredity or on tradition (not a customary ruling class a class whose title to rule comes from claims to nobility rather rhos title to rule or potential title to rule rests on their capacity for hard work, thrift and opportunity
Section 95 Locke
the only way, whereby any one divests himself of his natural liberty and puts on the bonds of civil society (restrictions) is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community for their comfortable safe and peaceable living one amongst another in a secure enjoyment of their properties and a greater security against any, that are not of it
Locke’s case for Democracy
the ends of civil society serves comfortable, safe and peaceful living
“when any number of men have so consented to make one community or government they are thereby presently incorporated and make one body politic, wherein the majority have a right to act and conclude the rest”
this statement make a case for “Democracy”(locke was considered by many a majority rule democrat)
What is the only legitimate government according to locke
legitimacy for a king comes from the consent of his subjects (majority)
examples: caesar, Commodus, Caligula, Cleopatra, mark Anthony
Locke is saying there is only one form of government is legitimate and that is Democracy
what is the only form of government to be absolutely ruled out by locke
absolute monarchy because it lacks the right to coerce people to obey it.
Locke self-ownership
self-ownership nobody has a right to our bodies but ourselves
a person has an identity, amoral personality by the fact that we alone are responsible for making ourselves
we are the product of our own making
locke support a meritocracy (equality of opportunity)
what a person does with his or her opportunity belongs to them
Take Care and Necessary and Proper
take care: president can exceed the limits of the constitution if they are taking care of the United States
Locke argues when you consent to the executive, that will still happen
Necessary and proper (elastic clause): president can exceed constitution if it is necessary and proper
President is stretching laws
Lincoln - self government, state of nature,
when the white man governs himself that is self government
when he governs himself and also governs another man that is more than self-government- that is despotism. if the negro is a man why then my ancient faith teaches me that all men are created equal and that there can be no moral right in connection with the man’s making a slave of another
if you govern another man, you are going against self government and, therefore, the state of nature
Section 118
a child is born of no country or government, you are property of your parents.
Locke self-ownership
self-ownership nobody has a right to our bodies but ourselves
a person has an identity, amoral personality by the fact that we alone are responsible for making ourselves
we are the product of our own making
locke support a meritocracy (equality of opportunity)
what a person does with his or her opportunity belongs to them
Take Care and Necessary and Proper
take care: president can exceed the limits of the constitution if they are taking care of the United States
Locke argues when you consent to the executive, that will still happen
Necessary and proper: president can exceed constitution if it is necessary and proper
mcculloch v maryland
consent
power of the executive
we want to establish a national bank
if we put this bank in Maryland we will tax you
you cannot tax a federal instrument
the executive of this county can put this bank where ever it wants
maryland has consented to being under this federal system
first time a state challenged the federal government and because
property according to Locke
bodily property and private property
bodily property: “self-ownership”
men have natural and inalienable right to their bodies and labor power.
one owns his own body (to make money)
other people may not use a persons body for any purpose without his permission. but one can acquire property beyond ones own body through labour. by mixing ones labor with objects in the world, one acquires a right to the fruits of their labor (private property).
You have a freedom and a right over your body and your hands and when you work hard you can have a happy life
you should not be given anything. nothing is a handout
property should be private. use your hands to get as much as you want
it is far from clear how much labor is required to turn any given unowned object int o a piece of private property. (fence analogy). you need more.. to till, to maintain, to grow. You have to work for it.
Private property: the right to enjoy exclusive control over and enjoyment over certain goods
consent according to Locke
what legitimizes this transition from a state of nature to a market economy?
CONSENT
According to Locke the origin of all legitimate government is said to derive from Consent the consent of the governed
we consent in voting, paying taxes, following the law, pledge of allegiance
Simply impossible to get unanimous consent
Consent of the Majority
McCullough v Maryland example
for when any number of men have, by the consent of every individual, made a community, they have thereby made the community one body, with a power to act as one body which is only by the will and determination of the majority.
it is necessary the body should move that way wither the greater force carries it, which is the consent of the majority
the majority of people vote one way, the community will follow. the majority accounts for the entire consent
Power of the executive according to Locke
McCullough v Maryland
we want to establish a national bank
if we put this bank in Maryland we will tax you
you cannot tax a federal instrument
the executive of this county can put this bank where ever it wants
maryland has consented to being under this federal system
first time a state challenged the federal government and because
Political power according to Locke
Locke defines political power as a right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently, all less penalties for the regulation and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community in execution of such laws and in defense of the common-wealth from foreign injury and all this only for the public good
Sir Robert Filmer’s four points in theory of monarchy
- the king’s authority comes from the right of a father’s Devine right to command obedience from his children
- the right listed in 1 is unlimited, as in the kind has the unlimited right over the lives and property of his subjects
- government does not require consent
- subjects do not have the right to revolution
Hobbes v Locke v Mach
Hobbes argued that the state of nature would be a place of lawless anarchy and everyone would be miserable and wanting to escape it that they would set up an absolute sovereign to maintain law and order.
He also argued that in the state of nature there would be no justice or injustice due to no law and order
Locke counter argues this would imply that men lack the capacity to act in such a way
Liberal or constitutional democracy- Locke the father
Lockes writings derived from Mach and Hobbes
Lockes took Mach’s the prince and turned it into a doctrine of sovereignty
Hobbes social contract - the sovereign (the office, a place to go) Locke turned it into a society.
to Locke it is a state of being
without the sovereign we would be living in a state of nature with no civil authority no one able to enforce rules or laws
the sovereign should have absolute authority
why would a society leave the state of nature and build a civil society?
the one drawback of the state of nature is our lives and property are not sage and secure there. in the state of nature, there would be vigilante justice instead of a cohesive police force and those being their own judge and jury in compensation for violations of their rights. to solve these problems we leave the state of nature and create a civil society.
What are the two ways one could come to acquire the right to something? property
Locke believes that something can be transferred to you via gift or you can appropriate something by mixing it with your labor.
How does Locke feel about slavery?
Since slavery violates self-ownership, it violates the laws of nature (unless it is punishment for someone who violated the law)
what chapter sums up Locke’s political theory?
chapter 5
Theory of Natural Law and State of Nature
What is the condition of nature? what is the condition of the State of Nature?
The state of nature is where natural law is in operational form.
not an amoral condition, but a moral condition
The state of nature is not a condition of ruling and ruler
the state of nature is not a political condition
the state of nature is a condition of perfect freedom and equality: there is no civil authority or obligation
the state of nature is a thought experiment
The state of nature is a condition of peace and mutual distrust
what is human nature like in the absence of authority?
The state of nature is not an amoral condition. The state of nature is a moral condition, governed by moral law or natural law that dictates peace and sociability
No one should harm another life, liberty or possessions
the law of nature declares we are all “the workman ship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise maker”
What does that mean?
as a product of divine workmanship, we ought never to harm anyone in their lives, liberties or possessions. This turns into the right of self preservation.
does the law of nature have a person or office to see over the force or application of it?
nope
The damnified person has this power to appropriating to himself the goods or service of the offender, by right to self-preservation, as every man has the power to punish the crime, to prevent its being committed again, by the right he has of preserving all mankind, and doing all reasonable things he can order to that end
what section and what does it mean?
section 11
the state of nature eventually degenerates into a condition of Civil War where every individual serves as a Judge Jury and Executioner of the Nature of Law.
Every Man For Himself
If you feel you have been wronged in the State of Nature you have according to Natural law the right to appropriate to yourself the goods or services of the offender (to take from them their goods and property whatever you feel appropriate
what is the fundamental law of nature?
Self preservation
one may destroy a man who makes war upon him or has discovered an enmity to his being for the same reason that he may kill a wolf or a ion, because such men are not under the ties of the common law of reason, hav Eno other rule, but that of force and violence, and so may be treated as beasts of prey, those dangerous and noxious creatures, that will be sure to destroy him whenever he falls into their power.
what section and what does it mean
section 16
Locke compares human beings behavior to that of animals throughout tt
human beings can degenerate into beastly behavior
the freedoms we enjoy in the state of nature leads us to abuse those freedoms
executive power according to locke
gov must be limited
gov must embody a separation of power - (the subordination of power from federalist papers)
locke emphasizes that primacy of legislative
the first and fundamental law of all consitutions is establishing that of legislative power.
what is the first fundamental positive law of all constitutes is what? (executive power)
establishing that of legislative power
government is meant to prevent the possibility of tyrannical power
what is the first act after the completion of the social contract? (executive power)
ESTABLISHING LEGISLATIVE POWER
the law making authority of government is supreme
how does locke treat the executive?
locke treats the executive often as if they were an agent of the legislature ( carrying out the will of the legislature)
international conflict with the power of the executive
every community is to every other community is as every human is as to every human
a distinctive federative within the government is necessary for dealing with matters of international conflict
what is a federative according to locke?
war making power
the federative falls under the executive
God like Princes Sec. 166 executive power
matters of war and peace cannot be left to the legislature or standing laws but requires the intervention of strong leaders.
It is necessary in extreme situations for the princes to call on their power
the executive must be able to act for the good of the community. they must work according to descretion for the public good without the prescription of law
mach-arguments
first steps
The first step in his argument is to establish the terms and categories that he will use to make sense out of the multitude of different political situations that exist in the real world. Whether his categories do justice to the complexity of political history is a different question. Machiavelli creates an impression of directness and practicality by presenting the world in simple, clearly defined terms.
His response, a set of empirically verifiable rules and guidelines, is derived from a study of the conquests of the past, especially those of the French, the Romans, and the Greeks.
Aristotle v mach
Aristotle did not see all citizens as a nature of politics an community. Not all citizens are seen as equal, especially women and slaves, but he considers free citizens the entire reason for the state.
Mach sees ordinary people as piddling creatures worth nothing. Such people will either love or hate their ruler, depending on whether they are harmed or injured, but as long as the prince can maintain control, he need have little concern for their welfare.the purpose of government is not the good of the people but the stability of the state and the perpetuation of the established ruler’s control. Machiavelli does not concern himself with what goes on inside the state but what occurs externally.
