Ancient Philosophers

King Hammurabi

King Hammurabi Ancient Babylonian King who brought order out of chaos by creating and enforcing harsh laws in what is now Iraq. Hammurabi believed the best form of government was absolute monarchy enforced by clearly known written laws. “Hammurabi’s Code” is one of the first set of laws in recorded history. Many of Hammurabi’s punishments were retributive (vengeful) in nature. For example, Hammurabi’s Code contains the famous phrase, an “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.”

Jewish and Christian Laws Focused primarily on ethics (good and bad) and morality (right and wrong).

Focused primarily on property (ownership) and power (rights). Greek & Roman Laws Focused primarily on property (ownership) and power (rights).

Twelve Tables The Ancient Roman Republic’s legal code. The tables described how senators were elected, how laws were made, and how power was used. The Roman Republic’s “Constitution”

Ancient Philosophers Info

Socrates Ancient Greek philosopher who started a school that taught students to question everything. His method was to ask questions that could not be answered. He argued that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” He was accused of “corrupting the youth” for teaching students to question the wisdom of their parents, religion, society and democracy. He was sentenced to death for his “crime,” but committed suicide rather than be punished for thinking freely.

Plato Ancient Greek philosopher who was a student of Socrates. He thought that democracy’s trust in the average citizen to make decisions was a bad idea. He believed that if all citizens were well educated, democracy could be good, because they are not, it is bad. He argued that the best form of government was leadership by one person, the smartest man in society, a “philosopher king.” His famous book is “The Republic.”

Aristotle Ancient Greek philosopher who was a student of Plato. He thought democracy’s trust in people of different classes to vote for what’s best overall was a bad idea. He believed the rich vote to take advantage of the poor and that the poor vote to take from the rich. Therefore the only people who could be trusted to vote fairly were the middle class (educated but not rich). He argued that the best form of government was a king advised by philosophers from the middle class. His famous book is “The Politics.”

Critiques of Democracy Socrates Plato Aristotle Caesar People are too sheepish to make decisions. People are too stupid to make decisions. People are too selfish to make decisions. People are too slow to make decisions.

Enlightenment Philosophers

Thomas Hobbes

His famous book is “The Leviathan” Thomas Hobbes English philosopher who argued that the best form of government was Absolute Monarchy, so long as the king was good to his subjects. He believed people were naturally evil and wicked, and therefore need rules (a “social contract”) to escape what would otherwise be “nasty, brutish and short” lives. His famous book is “The Leviathan”

John Locke

His famous book is “Two Treatises of Government” John Locke English philosopher who argued that the best form of government was one that respected people’s “natural rights” to “life, liberty, and property.” To him, the best form of government was Indirect Democracy. He believed that leaders who do not protect their people’s “natural rights” are breaking the “social contract” and deserve to be overthrown. This idea helped inspire the American Revolution. His famous book is “Two Treatises of Government”

Baron de Montesquieu

His famous book is “The Spirit of the Laws” Baron de Montesquieu French philosopher who argued that the best form of government was anything that divided the legislative, executive and judicial powers amongst people. Montesquieu believed that when too much power is given to one person, they become corrupt, and the society suffers. As a result, rather than give all power to a king, he argued for a “separation of state power” into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. His famous book is “The Spirit of the Laws”

Jean Jacques Rousseau

His famous book is “On the Social Contract” Jean Jacques Rousseau Swiss born philosopher who argued that the best form of government was Direct Democracy. Unlike Hobbes and Locke, who believed that people need rules to avoid killing each other, Rousseau believed that people were naturally good, and that goodness could be fostered through education. To Rousseau, the “social contract” was meant to empower, not enslave. His famous book is “On the Social Contract”

To be completed in your notebook: Closing To be completed in your notebook: 1) Choose one of the four Enlightenment thinkers and discuss his ideas of government using two of the 3 perspectives