Political PhilosophyPolitical Philosophy

FreedomFreedom - the right to do anything of which one is capable - the right to do anything of which one is capable

LibertyLiberty - the right to do anything of which one is capable within the limits of - the right to do anything of which one is capable within the limits of lawlaw

   Justice - Justice - fairness, fairness, fairfair treatment ( treatment (notnot equalequal treatment !) treatment !)

     Divine Rights PhilosophyDivine Rights Philosophy

God chose certain people to rule (royal blood)God chose certain people to rule (royal blood)

Natural Rights PhilosophyNatural Rights PhilosophyGod made all people equal, people created gov’t to God made all people equal, people created gov’t to

protect their rights, if gov’t doesn’t protect the protect their rights, if gov’t doesn’t protect the people’s people’s rights, the people may abolish the gov’t rights, the people may abolish the gov’t and create a new and create a new gov’t to protect rightsgov’t to protect rights

Divine Rights Philosophy Divine Rights Philosophy (Niccolo Machiavelli)(Niccolo Machiavelli)

Natural Rights PhilosophyNatural Rights Philosophy AristotleAristotle Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes John LockeJohn Locke Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Thomas Paine Thomas Paine Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu Ben Franklin Ben Franklin James MadisonJames Madison

Authors and their Writings

Aristotle                           Politics

Niccolo Machiavelli          The Prince

Thomas Hobbes               Leviathan

John Locke              Two Treatises on Government

Jean-Jacques Rousseau   On The Social Contract

Authors and their Writings

Thomas Paine                 Common Sense

                                       Rights of Man

Thomas Jefferson            Declaration of Independence

Baron de Montesquieu     The Spirit of The Law

Benjamin Franklin           The Albany Plan of Union

James Madison               U.S. Constitution

Niccolo MachiavelliNiccolo Machiavelli((1469-1527))

Niccolo MachiavelliNiccolo Machiavelli - The Prince - The PrinceWritten c. 1505Written c. 1505 published 1515published 1515

Translated by W. K. MarriottTranslated by W. K. Marriott19081908

Niccolo Machiavelli – Niccolo Machiavelli – The PrinceThe Prince

Machiavelli defends an archaic belief that a King (Prince) has the Machiavelli defends an archaic belief that a King (Prince) has the right to do anything he wishes. (He’s writing to a King trying to get right to do anything he wishes. (He’s writing to a King trying to get a position in the new gov’t) Most political philosophers disagreed a position in the new gov’t) Most political philosophers disagreed with these ideas for hundreds of years, but Niccolo is trying to tell with these ideas for hundreds of years, but Niccolo is trying to tell the king what he thinks the king wants to hear. (For the job)the king what he thinks the king wants to hear. (For the job)

Machiavellian thought says Machiavellian thought says “might makes right”“might makes right”, that if a leader , that if a leader has the capability to conquer another land and the desire to own has the capability to conquer another land and the desire to own its resources the leader should sacrifice the lives of his soldiers its resources the leader should sacrifice the lives of his soldiers and use them to fight war.and use them to fight war.

MachiavelliMachiavelli compares a compares a PrincePrince to a to a shepherdshepherd MachiavelliMachiavelli compares the compares the citizenscitizens to a herd of to a herd of sheepsheep

Shepherds do not keep sheep because of a love of animals; they Shepherds do not keep sheep because of a love of animals; they use them for their own well-being (Profit/Power)use them for their own well-being (Profit/Power)

A shepherd A shepherd takes good caretakes good care of his sheep so he maximizes profit, of his sheep so he maximizes profit, but a sick sheep will be destroyed before he infects the rest of the but a sick sheep will be destroyed before he infects the rest of the herd.herd.

Niccolo Machiavelli – Niccolo Machiavelli – The PrinceThe Prince

““It is better to be feared than loved”It is better to be feared than loved”

Man will cooperate with a King he loves as long as it is convenient, but will Man will cooperate with a King he loves as long as it is convenient, but will obey the King he fears and help overthrow the King he loves to protect his life.obey the King he fears and help overthrow the King he loves to protect his life.

Machiavellian principles are used today by :Machiavellian principles are used today by :

football coachesfootball coaches (order intentional fouls that injure the opposition’s (order intentional fouls that injure the opposition’s best players, encourages the use of steroids)best players, encourages the use of steroids)

political leaderspolitical leaders (will refuse to vote for what is best for their (will refuse to vote for what is best for their country in order to hurt the opposition party or help “special country in order to hurt the opposition party or help “special interests” that fund their elections) interests” that fund their elections)

terroriststerrorists (injure innocent civilians to educate the world about their (injure innocent civilians to educate the world about their problems); problems);

employersemployers (abuse an employee to “make an example” for the rest (abuse an employee to “make an example” for the rest of the employees or pay employees, “under the table”)of the employees or pay employees, “under the table”)

Political Philosophy of Western CivilizationPolitical Philosophy of Western Civilization Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

Aristotle – Aristotle – PoliticsPolitics (350 B.C.) (350 B.C.) subjects are more likely to obey law if they can votesubjects are more likely to obey law if they can vote democracy can work if it has checks on unlimited popular democracy can work if it has checks on unlimited popular

rule)rule)

THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1679)

•Thomas Hobbes – Thomas Hobbes – LeviathanLeviathan (1651) (1651)•wrote during a period of disorder) wrote during a period of disorder)

•People were born in a state of nature (life without People were born in a state of nature (life without Government/Law)Government/Law)

•People chose to create government for protection of People chose to create government for protection of Life, Liberty, & Property (Among other things), Life, Liberty, & Property (Among other things), therefore, the people must obey their governmenttherefore, the people must obey their government

•Of Man Of Man –– About human natureAbout human nature

•Of CommonwealthOf Commonwealth – About the nature of – About the nature of GovernmentGovernment

Social ContractSocial Contract•Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Freedom for Liberty and protection of GovernmentFreedom for Liberty and protection of Government

John Locke (1632-1704) John Locke (1632-1704)

John Locke – John Locke – Two Treatises on GovernmentTwo Treatises on Government (1690) (1690) (Essay about Hobbes’ (Essay about Hobbes’ LeviathanLeviathan)) Social ContractSocial Contract Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Freedom for Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Freedom for

Liberty and protection of Gov’t, but if government fails to Liberty and protection of Gov’t, but if government fails to protect citizens, then citizens have the right to abolish the protect citizens, then citizens have the right to abolish the government and institute a new governmentgovernment and institute a new government

John LockeJohn Locke Second Treatise on Civil GovernmentSecond Treatise on Civil Government

Man in the State of NatureMan in the State of Nature

Perfect freedom to do as they are capable within the Law of Nature Perfect freedom to do as they are capable within the Law of Nature without dependence on man or lawwithout dependence on man or law

State of equality with all of manState of equality with all of man

Law of NatureLaw of Nature

“… “… no one ought to harm another in his life health, liberty, or no one ought to harm another in his life health, liberty, or possessions”possessions”

Man forms government by the Social Contract in which Man forms government by the Social Contract in which Man gives up Freedom in exchange for protection of Man gives up Freedom in exchange for protection of Life, Liberty, and PropertyLife, Liberty, and Property

John LockeJohn Locke Second Treatise on Civil GovernmentSecond Treatise on Civil Government

Three things found wanting in the State of Nature, which Three things found wanting in the State of Nature, which encourages Man to enter into the Social Contractencourages Man to enter into the Social Contract

1.1. Established known Law to be standard of right and wrongEstablished known Law to be standard of right and wrong2.2. Impartial judges with Authority to settle differencesImpartial judges with Authority to settle differences3.3. The Power to support and execute sentences decided by judgesThe Power to support and execute sentences decided by judges

The Extent of Legislative AuthorityThe Extent of Legislative Authority1.1. Govern by established law, ”rule of law” (applied equally)Govern by established law, ”rule of law” (applied equally)2.2. Law designed only for good of the peopleLaw designed only for good of the people3.3. All money raised must be with the consent of the peopleAll money raised must be with the consent of the people4.4. Cannot transfer legislative powers to anybody elseCannot transfer legislative powers to anybody else

The Dissolution of GovernmentThe Dissolution of Government Whenever anyone makes law without Authority, uses Force Whenever anyone makes law without Authority, uses Force

without Right… then the People shall be judge and may dissolve without Right… then the People shall be judge and may dissolve (overthrow) the government as being an illegitimate government (overthrow) the government as being an illegitimate government

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Jean-Jacques Rousseau – On the Social ContractOn the Social Contract (1762) (1762)

• (Essay about Hobbes’ (Essay about Hobbes’ LeviathanLeviathan))• Social ContractSocial Contract• Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Freedom for Liberty and Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Freedom for Liberty and

protection of Government However the contract has other clause…protection of Government However the contract has other clause…• Man places his Authority in Common (Gov’t), Common must be Man places his Authority in Common (Gov’t), Common must be

guided by the General Will (consent of the governed)…guided by the General Will (consent of the governed)… • All law/lawmakers must by approved by the people (elections)… but if All law/lawmakers must by approved by the people (elections)… but if

government fails to protect citizens or does not continue to have the government fails to protect citizens or does not continue to have the consent of its citizens, then citizens have the right to abolish the consent of its citizens, then citizens have the right to abolish the government and institute a new governmentgovernment and institute a new government

Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)

• Thomas Jefferson – Declaration of Independence (1776)• (puts political theory into practice)• Addressed to History and the World• Espouses the Natural Rights Philosophy• Lists Complaints against the Crown• Proclaims that all 13 colonies will fight together for Independence

Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

Thomas Paine - Common Sense (1776)

Thomas Paine - Rights of Man (1791-1792)Explains the Seventeen Human Rights & Limits on Gov’tGov’t should only restrict citizens from harming each other or Society. Citizens have an obligation to resist gov’t interference on our Liberties

George WashingtonPRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SIR,

I present you a small treatise in defence of those principles of freedom which your exemplary virtue hath so eminently contributed to establish. That the Rights of

Man may become as universal as your benevolence can wish, and that you may enjoy the happiness of seeing the New World regenerate the Old, is the prayer of SIR,

Your much obliged, andObedient humble Servant,

THOMAS PAINE

Charles de Secondat, Baron de MontesquieuCharles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu

(1689--1755)(1689--1755)

Baron de Montesquieu    The Spirit of The Law (1748)Baron de Montesquieu    The Spirit of The Law (1748) Describes the principles of Separation of PowersDescribes the principles of Separation of Powers Whenever the same body of magistrates holds Executive, Legislative, Whenever the same body of magistrates holds Executive, Legislative,

and Judicial powers…that is the definition of Tyrannyand Judicial powers…that is the definition of Tyranny

Benjamin Franklin 1706–1790Benjamin Franklin 1706–1790

Benjamin Franklin  - The Albany Plan of Union (1754)Benjamin Franklin  - The Albany Plan of Union (1754)

Rejected by the colonies; Plan to create a National colonial governmentRejected by the colonies; Plan to create a National colonial government

A National government (a decade ahead of its time) to negotiate and enforce A National government (a decade ahead of its time) to negotiate and enforce

treaties with the American Indianstreaties with the American Indians

James Madison (1751 – 1836)

James Madison  - U.S. Constitution (1787)

• Three branches of Government (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial)

• Change from state sovereignty to popular sovereignty