June 1989 – Tiananmen Square

John Locke

“The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which treats everyone equally…[B]eing equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health or possessions.”

“The old [traditions] are apt to lead men into mistakes, as this [idea] of [fatherly] power’s probably has done, which seems so [eager] to place the power of parents over their children wholly in the father, as if the mother has no share in it. Whereas if we consult reason or [the Bible], we shall find she has an equal title.”

June 1989 – Tiananmen Square

“Whensoever…the [government] shall…put into the hands of any other absolute power over the lives, liberty and estates of the people, by this breach of trust they forfeit the power [of] the people….who have a right to resume their original liberty, and by the establishment of a new [government] provide for their own safety and security.”

Baron de Montesquieu

“When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.

“In a true state of nature, indeed, all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of laws.”

 Thomas Hobbes

“It is not wisdom, but Authority that makes laws.”

“[In a place with no government, the life of man] is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

“During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man”.

Name the philosopher:

• Every person is born with natural rights given to them by God.

• John Locke

All men should have the right to life, liberty and property.

John Locke

In a state of nature, if no government exists, man will be against man.

Thomas Hobbes

No person should harm another person because all people are equal and independent.

John Locke

The best government is the one that has powers divided so that there is a balance of power.

Montesquieu

People are naturally wicked and can not be trusted to govern.

Thomas Hobbes

The best government is that of a king because a country needs an authority figure to provide leadership and direction.

Thomas Hobbes

“Separation of powers” is necessary in government.

Montesquieu

People should give up their rights in order to live by a contract. This is known as the Social Contract Theory.

Hobbes and Locke

John Locke

• English Philosopher strongly connected with the Social Contract Theory.

• One of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers.

John Locke• His philosophy heavily

influenced the Declaration of Independence.

• Believed human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance.

John Locke

• Major works:

Two Treatises of Government

A Letter Concerning Toleration

Baron de Montesquieu

• Famous for theory of separation of powers.

• Said that a woman could be head of the government, but not head of the household.

Baron de Montesquieu• Said that there are 2 types of

governmental power:1) Administrative (Legislative,

Executive, Judicial branches)2) Sovereign (Certain people had

powers within their own territory)

Baron de Montesquieu• Said there are 3 forms of

government:1) Monarchies (free

governments headed by a hereditary figure, such as a King)

Baron de Montesquieu

2) Republics (headed by popularly elected leaders)

3) Despotisms (enslaved governments headed by dictators)

Baron de Montesquieu

• Firmly supported a hereditary aristocracy.

Baron de Montesquieu

• Major works:

The Spirit of Laws

System of Ideas

Thomas Hobbes

• In the “State of Nature”:

1) Everyone fears a violent death.

2) All rights are born of necessity.

Thomas Hobbes

• In the “State of Nature”:

“Life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

Thomas Hobbes

• Major works included Leviathan, which became one of the first scholarly works on the Social Contract Theory.