Philosophers Influential on the US Constitution

Baron Charles de Montesquieu French!

Book: “The Spirit of Laws” His ideas on separation of powers became the basis for the United States Constitution. Believed that a government elected by the people was the best form of government.

Believed in justice and the rule of law through balance of power and the division of authority as a way to protect against bad control individuals or groups

Wanted constitutionalism (Government in which power is distributed and limited by a system of laws that the rulers must obey.) The preservation of civil liberties. (Not MLK jr) Approved of social equality, but not to the point which it threatened individual liberty

Best government would be balanced among three groups of officials: The king (who enforced laws), Parliament (which made laws), Judges of the English courts (who interpreted laws) – Dividing government power into three branches the "separation of powers."

That way, the government would avoid placing too much power with one individual or group of individuals. Each branch of government could limit the power of the other two branches. Therefore, no branch of the government could threaten the freedom of the people.

Did not feel that all people were equal. Cool note--- Did not feel that all people were equal. Thought women were weaker than men but, he felt that women did have the ability to govern.

“It is against reason and against nature for women to be mistresses in the house... but not for them to govern an empire.” In this way, he argued that women were too weak to be in control at home, but that their calmness and gentleness would be helpful qualities in making decisions in government.

Thomas Hobbes

English philosopher, book Leviathan established the foundation for most of Western political philosophy. Also believed in human nature as self-interested cooperation.

What is “Self-interested cooperation?”? (Glad you asked!) Man is not naturally good, but naturally selfish  

If people’s motives were, in their natural state, guided by unenlightened self-interest, these could, if left unchecked, have highly destructive consequences.  -- CHAOS!!!!

State of Nature! Hobbes tried to envision what society would be like in a "state of nature" -- before any civil state or rule of law. 

David Hume

David Hume Scottish Wrote: “A Treatise of Human Nature” Wanted a constitution to prevent bad government Believed that Free Speech was Essential!

About Human Nature: Man is not entirely self-serving—but seeks balance

John Locke English Natural Rights of Man

The term social contract is a broad class of theories which suggest that agreements of people form nations and maintain a social order.

This means that the people give up some rights to a government in order to receive social order.

Voltaire French Civil Rights! & Social Reform!

Separation of Church and State Religious Freedom Writer and Playwright

Weird: distrusted democracy, which he saw as “propagating the idiocy” of the masses.

Jean Jacques Rousseau - French The Social Contract: Basis for a legitimate political order within a framework of classical republicanism Individuals can both preserve themselves and remain free

Sovereignty should be in the hands of the people Wanted: Direct Democracy

Democracies

Which do we have???

Nope… A Compound Constitutional Republic What does that mean? A Democratic Republic

State of nature is primitive condition without law or morality. This makes it necessary for human beings to cooperate.

We must balance the state of nature and the best for all

Weird!.... Laws made by small groups FOR small groups

Philosophers in Timeline Hobbes Locke Montesquieu Hume Rousseau Voltaire 1651 1671 1716 1739 1743 1743