Philosophical Foundations of American Government Learning Objective: You will analyze western political ideas that led to the foundation of the of the United States government

Subjectivity Subjectivity We must look at everything objectively bird Is this a leftward-looking bird? anteloperabbit rightward-looking antelope ? Or a rabbit ?

Do You Change Your Mind? Do You Change Your Mind?

Do You Change Your Mind Again?

Are There One or Two Shelves?

Arnold Before “I’ll be back.” Arnold After “Oh!! My back”

I. Introduction America’s foundation is based on the writings of certain western political thinkers. These guys asked, “What is man like in a state of nature?”

A state is a group of people living together, under some organized system. A state is a group of people living together, under some organized system. A state of nature is a group of people living together without any form of government organization. A state of nature is a group of people living together without any form of government organization. So, what is man like in such a situation? So, what is man like in such a situation?

The Nature of Man: Man does things out of his own self-interest. That can be good, leading to innovations (the root of capitalism). It can also be bad, leading to pain and destruction (the reason for government).

II. Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan (1651) His views of man: Man is bad. Man is basically self-centered. This is why man needs a strong state. The state must be more powerful than the evil desires of men.

His fundamental idea: Men give their loyalty to a sovereign ruler. In return they are given back safety and security. “Man is nasty, brutish, & short! Errgh!”

Government came to be because of the constant possibility of conflict. Thus the state must be supreme in power in order to protect the citizens and “forces” them to be good.

III. John Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government (1690) He agreed with Hobbs that man was bad; but he also viewed man as good.

He argued that people have natural rights given to them by God (State of nature). Thus God is the only one who can take them away from man. In the Declaration of Independence they are called “unalienable.” This means they cannot be taken away.

Those rights are: Life Liberty Liberty Property Property

He felt property was important. Why? It was an important part of a man’s livelihood. It determines a man survival. Men are free until they infringe on the rights of others.

Locke’s fundamental idea: Man’s obedience to government is conditional upon government’s ability to protect man’s rights. This led to a RADICAL new idea for the 17 th century. The belief that man is above the government.

If the government does not protect man’s rights, then citizens have the right to overthrow, or change their government.

Why? Because the government has a monopoly on the use of force. If they refuse to protect your rights what can you do? That’s scary!

Second Treatise of Civil Government: “A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another….” Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self- evident: That all men are created equal.” Jefferson’s Plagiarism

Second Treatise of Civil Government: “(men) have a mind to unite for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties, and …property.” Declaration of Independence: “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

III. Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote The Social Contract (1762) His view of man: Man is good. Thus mean should be allowed to rule themselves personal rule.

He disliked all forms of government. He said that man used to be free, governments have now enslaved him. He also believed that all men should be considered equal under the law!

So to free himself, man must: 1. Respect for the rights of all. 2. Public education with moral instruction. 3. Engage in the creation of laws.

His fundamental idea: Government laws would be accepted by all, because all would have a say in making them. Thus all would obey the common welfare of society. All would obtain freedom because all would rule. “What does that mean?” “Government officials would be public servants”

IV. Montesquieu View man as good and bad like Locke. Viewed government as servant to man like Rousseau. Thus government could be good or bad also. Wrote “Spirit of the Law” (1748)

Montesquieu fundamental idea: It is the nature of any government to abuse power. The only way to prevent the abuses of power was with power.

Government power should be divided into three parts. Legislative Power Executive Power Judicial Power

Each division of power would check the others. Thus maintaining liberty for all, because no man or group would be able to gain too much control.

Our Founding Fathers created a lasting Constitution based on these ideas.

The End!