SGPP300A Exam 1 Notes
EXAM 1 REVIEW NOTES
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
8:54 PM Polakowski (Lecture 1 and 2) Human Nature/State of Nature
If left to their own devices (no government), how would people behave?
Hobbes
State of nature is a state of war
There would be no regulation of goods, services, infrastructure, awareness of worldly surroundings, etc. Locke
Living with no government is the proper state of nature
A "common judge with authority puts all men in a state of nature"
Rousseau
"man has no idea of goodness, he must be naturally wicked"
The bigger the government gets, the more animosity builds between it and the citizens
Civilized society appears worse than a state of nature
Justification of the State
Role of government;
Impose order
Protect property
Allow people to transcend their interests and realize the general will
Structure of Government
Monarchy: single person is sovereign, vested with complete authority -- executive, legislative, and judicial powers
Hobbes
Self-love leads to war
Monarchy imposes order and maintains peace
Must satisfy people knowing they could be killed at any point
BUT, how to hold accountability?
Aristocracy: smaller group of people vested with some or all of government authority
Rousseau
People, by nature, are good, which allows for self-governance
Democracy maintains freedom and limits burden of law
-> As population increases and factions form, aristocracy rises
Group whose sole job is the rule the country
BUT, how to limit power of factions?
Factions- dangerous groups which are willing to exploit everybody in their environment
Democracy (direct and representative): citizens are sovereigns
Locke
Self-love mediated by reason = capacity for self-governance
Democracy protects property and maintains govt accountability
Direct - everyone votes on everything
Forces everyone to have a say
Representative- elected body to vote for issues
BUT, how to limit majority tyranny?
Hobbes
(1586-1679)
England
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
8:54 PM Polakowski (Lecture 1 and 2) Human Nature/State of Nature
If left to their own devices (no government), how would people behave?
Hobbes
State of nature is a state of war
There would be no regulation of goods, services, infrastructure, awareness of worldly surroundings, etc. Locke
Living with no government is the proper state of nature
A "common judge with authority puts all men in a state of nature"
Rousseau
"man has no idea of goodness, he must be naturally wicked"
The bigger the government gets, the more animosity builds between it and the citizens
Civilized society appears worse than a state of nature
Justification of the State
Role of government;
Impose order
Protect property
Allow people to transcend their interests and realize the general will
Structure of Government
Monarchy: single person is sovereign, vested with complete authority -- executive, legislative, and judicial powers
Hobbes
Self-love leads to war
Monarchy imposes order and maintains peace
Must satisfy people knowing they could be killed at any point
BUT, how to hold accountability?
Aristocracy: smaller group of people vested with some or all of government authority
Rousseau
People, by nature, are good, which allows for self-governance
Democracy maintains freedom and limits burden of law
-> As population increases and factions form, aristocracy rises
Group whose sole job is the rule the country
BUT, how to limit power of factions?
Factions- dangerous groups which are willing to exploit everybody in their environment
Democracy (direct and representative): citizens are sovereigns
Locke
Self-love mediated by reason = capacity for self-governance
Democracy protects property and maintains govt accountability
Direct - everyone votes on everything
Forces everyone to have a say
Representative- elected body to vote for issues
BUT, how to limit majority tyranny?
Hobbes
(1586-1679)
England