Influential Philosophers

Foundations of American Government

Ancient Greece The early Athenians believed in individual

freedom within the boundaries of law 508 BC = Athens became one of the first city-

states to establish a democracy* Aristotle: widely regarded as the most brilliant

philosopher in Western thought. Believed humans to be naturally social &

political due to 1) reasoned speech & 2) moral thought.

Index Card Question…

What form of government did the Ancient Greeks provide our “founding” Fathers?

Aristotle 384B.C.-322B.C. Ruling is noble Social relationships & the cultivation

of ethics: friendship

Aristotle (cont.) Nicomachean Ethics: ten books

which discuss “virtues”. In order to become “good”, one

cannot simply study what virtue is; one must actually do virtuous deeds.

Emphasizes the importance of context to ethical behavior – what might be right in one situation might be wrong in another.

Early Roman Republic 509 BC Consisted of three parts: 2 consuls,

equal in authority, elected for 1 year; the Senate, a 50 member oligarchy, and the citizens, organized into assemblies

Mixed form of government Early Rome civilization responsible for

the idea of a republican government.

Index Card Question…

What idea was created by the early Roman Civilization?

Magna Carta 1215 We the People pages 19-22

Important terms:*feudalism*monarchy*representative government

Magna Carta: Key Points

1. First time the English people had placed limits on the power of the government*

2. The rule of law: both parties must comply with laws. Places limits on the power of government!

Index Card Question…

Why was the Magna Carta important?

Key Vocabulary

tyranny – abuse of power

absolute power – power without limits

Niccolo Machiavelli 1469-1527

Machiavelli “I say, therefore, that all these kinds of government are

harmful in consequence of the short life of the three good ones and the viciousness of the three bad ones. Having noted these failings, prudent lawgivers rejected each of these forms individually and chose instead to combine them into one that would be firmer and more stable than any, since each form would serve as a check upon the others in a state having monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy at one and the same time.”

-- Nicollo Machiavelli

The Prince

Machiavelli Both of his best known works (Il

Principe and Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio) are analyses of government.

Name has become synonomous with amorality and corruption.

Machiavelli introduced the idea of situational ethics – the ends justify the means.

Index Card Question…

What was Machiavelli's political belief?

John Calvin1509-1564

John Calvin

Most influential thinker of the Protestant reformation

Believed church and state were both under the authority of Christ

Believed the job of governments was a sacred calling

Calvin's life was a blend of religion & politics

John Locke1632-1704

John Locke(1632-1704)

Wrote Two Treatises of Government Proposed that government rests on

popular consent and rebellion is permissible when government subverts the ends (protection of life, liberty, and property) for which it is established.

Believed that public welfare made government necessary

John Locke Locke wrote extensively about natural

rights: the rights to life, liberty, and property which all people have because they are human beings.

Locke also wrote about a situation he called state of nature – the absence of government and law.

Locke said the purpose of government was to protect the rights of the people (natural rights)*.

Index Cards…

What was John Locke’s political belief? What was the term John Locke used

to describe everyone’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (property)?

What was Locke’s idea of social contract (look at notes from yesterday)?

English Bill of Rights Passed by Parliament in 1689. The laws are

supreme and apply to citizens and government alike.*

Gave certain rights to Englishmen & further limited the powers of the monarch.

The EBOR gave Parliament the balance of power in the government.

Specific Rights 1. right to trial before a neutral judge and jury 2. protection of life, liberty, and property from

illegal procedures; 3. right to information, particularly about

accusations; 4. the idea that one is innocent until proven

guilty 5. right to be represented by counsel and to

call witnesses in defense.

EBOR Disallowed kings/queens from:*collecting taxes without permission of Parliament;*interfering with free speech & debate in

Parliament;*maintaining an army in times of peace;*requiring excessive bail or administering

cruel punishment;*overturning laws made by Parliament.

Index Card

EBOR (English Bill of Rights) stated that law is supreme and applies to who?

Thomas Hobbes1588-1679

Thomas Hobbes

Born in London, educated at Oxford Wrote Leviathan in 1651 Believed in an absolute monarchy “All mankind [is in] a perpetual and

restless desire for power…that [stops] only in death.”

Believed that humans (and nations) were basically selfish and would do anything to better their position.

HobbesSocial Contract Theory

Governments were created, according to Hobbes, to protect people from their own selfishness.

Distrusted democracy, but believed that a diverse group of representatives presenting common problems would prevent a monarch from being cruel and unfair.

Index Cards….

Describe Hobbes’ view of state of nature?

What form of government did Hobbes’ support in his book Leviathan?

Montesquieu1689-1755

Baron de Montesquieu1689-1755

Believed that all things were made up of rules or laws that never changed.

According to Montesquieu, there were 3 types of government: monarchy, republic, and despotism.

Believed that a government elected by the people was the best form.

The success of a democracy was contingent on maintaining the right balance of power.

Monty’s Idea!!! Separate the powers of

government among different branches; each should represent different interests in society.

Balance the powers among the branches so no one branch could control the others.

Give each branch ways to check the use of power by the other branches.

Index Cards….

What was the name of Montesquieu’s term for dividing government into different branches of government?

Rousseau1712 - 1778

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Believed that man was good by nature – “a

noble savage” – corrupted by society. Society changes man’s amour de soi

(positive self-love), into propre (pride). Believed that humans would degenerate &

perish unless they join together in social contract, abandoning claims of natural right.

Believed in popular sovereignty & the government’s role as enforcing the general will of the people.

Index Card…

What political philosopher believed humans would perish (die) without a social contract?

What do you think?

Homework: Write a short essay explaining who your favorite philosopher is and WHY. In other words, you must defend your answer.