What is the Purpose of Government?

Do Now! Get into groups of no more than 4 and no less than 3 students. –As a group, complete the following. Suppose for a minute that you arrived a school this morning with no teachers or adults of any kind in the building. All that show up are students. –Create a list of ten things your group would do during the day. Be as specific as possible. Get into groups of no more than 4 and no less than 3 students. –As a group, complete the following. Suppose for a minute that you arrived a school this morning with no teachers or adults of any kind in the building. All that show up are students. –Create a list of ten things your group would do during the day. Be as specific as possible.

Two Enlightenment Views on Government Two Englishmen, after experiencing the political and social turmoil of the 1600s try to come up with new thoughts about the nature of government. –Thomas Hobbes –John Locke Both men come up with different views on nature of the human spirit. Two Englishmen, after experiencing the political and social turmoil of the 1600s try to come up with new thoughts about the nature of government. –Thomas Hobbes –John Locke Both men come up with different views on nature of the human spirit.

Thomas Hobbes Wrote his theories in his book, Leviathan. –The English Civil War convinced him that humans were essentially selfish and wicked. –The purpose of government was to keep these natural human urges in check. To Hobbes, in order to escape a life of misery where one man is constantly trying to kill another, people had to turn over their freedom to a government. –In exchange for their freedom, they gain law and order. –Hobbes called this the social contract. –And since people were selfish and greedy, Hobbes argued that the ruler needs total power, an absolute monarchy being ideal. Wrote his theories in his book, Leviathan. –The English Civil War convinced him that humans were essentially selfish and wicked. –The purpose of government was to keep these natural human urges in check. To Hobbes, in order to escape a life of misery where one man is constantly trying to kill another, people had to turn over their freedom to a government. –In exchange for their freedom, they gain law and order. –Hobbes called this the social contract. –And since people were selfish and greedy, Hobbes argued that the ruler needs total power, an absolute monarchy being ideal.

John Locke Locke has a more positive view of human nature. –He believes people can learn from experience and improve themselves. Since humans are beings that function on reason, they have the ability to govern their own affairs and to look after the welfare of society. –Locke therefore criticizes absolutism. All people are born with natural rights. –Life, Liberty and Property Government, Locke said, exists to protect these rights. If government fails to do so, citizens have a right and a duty to overthrow that government. –This means that the power to rule comes from the consent of those being governed. Locke has a more positive view of human nature. –He believes people can learn from experience and improve themselves. Since humans are beings that function on reason, they have the ability to govern their own affairs and to look after the welfare of society. –Locke therefore criticizes absolutism. All people are born with natural rights. –Life, Liberty and Property Government, Locke said, exists to protect these rights. If government fails to do so, citizens have a right and a duty to overthrow that government. –This means that the power to rule comes from the consent of those being governed.

1.Do you consent to being governed here at school? 2.Do you feel the school protects your three natural rights as John Locke defines them? 1.Do you consent to being governed here at school? 2.Do you feel the school protects your three natural rights as John Locke defines them?