1. Important philosophers
Top ten things you need to know 1

2. 1
Hobbes (1588 – 1679)
Men on their own are nasty to each other and will fight over resources so you need a strong government that will control people (better to fear a terrible dictator than all of your neighbors, even if that means giving up your rights)
The condition of man... is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.

3. 2
Locke (1632 – 1704)
People are naturally good and the government should just be there to ensure the rights of individuals are protected; if the government can’t do this then you have the right to overthrow the government
The end of the law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom

4. 3
Rousseau (1712 – 1778)
We need to come together and share our resources; everyone should have the right to help decide the rules of the community, but once that general will has been decided it will need to be strictly enforced
If there were a nation of gods it would govern itself democratically. A government so perfect is not suited to men.

5. 4
Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797)
Liberal ideas are foolish as they ignore all of the lessons that have been learned in the past to create our traditions, and breaks the communal bonds of society in the pursuit of individualism
But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.

6. 5
Adam Smith (1723 – 1790)
Taking a laissez-faire approach will free the economy from mercantilist controls; our selfish interests and the forces of supply and demand will control the economy, as if by an invisible hand.
The real and effectual discipline which is exercised over a workman is that of his customers. It is the fear of losing their employment which restrains his frauds and corrects his negligence.

7. 6
John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873)
Was a strong believer in individual freedoms, but saw that the unequal treatment of women and poor laborers did not allow these groups the same opportunity to enjoy those freedoms
Whenever the general disposition of the people is such, that each individual regards only his interests which are selfish, and does not concern himself for his share of the general interest, good government is impossible.

8. 7
Karl Marx (1818 – 1883)
The abuses that occur as a result of a laissez-faire economic system can be overcome by establishing a classless society through the promotion of those collectivist ideals that encourage cooperation and creativity
Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite!

9. 8
Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)
The branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial) need to be separate in order to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, and thus violating the ideals of democracy
Constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it…To prevent this abuse, it is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.

10. 9
Voltaire (1694 – 1778)
Rejected traditional systems of authority and government; advocated for civil rights such as freedom of speech and religion
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.

11. It is not always easy to put philosopher on a spectrum10
John Locke and Adam Smith do fit on the right wing side of the spectrum as they are an individualists. John Stuart Mill can also be placed just left of these men as he agreed with many of their ideas but wanted some government intervention to make the playing field more fair
Karl Marx does fit on the left wing side of the spectrum as he advocated for a society based on collectivist ideals
Hobbes does not believe in individual rights so he is not right wing, yet he also does not want to promote equality so he is not really left wing
Rousseau believes in direct democracy when it comes to establishing the general will (which is individualist) but does not support private property and feels that people must be forced to be free (which is collectivist)