Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Baron de Montesquieu

The Philosophy of the Founders

****Men Who Were Not Americans, but Helped Determine

What America Could Be

Let’s changethe way things are!!

But, how???

Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org

“We’d Like to Change the World, but We Don’t Know What to Do…..”

What would life be like if there were no government?

What is the nature of all people?

Good? Evil? Selfish?Caring?

Hobbes* Without government people

lived in a state of nature.

* Without written, enforceable rules, people would live like animals –

foraging for food,fighting, stealing &

killing, when necessary

“…life would besolitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short…”

Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org

Hobbes

By entering a SOCIAL CONTRACT,

people agreed to give up the state of naturefor an organized society

Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org

Montesquieu•Studied various types of government throughout Europe

•Advocated for a different system of government

•Divide powers of government among 3 branches the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branch

•Each branch should be able check the powers of the other two.

Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org

therefore they understand the law of nature through the use of their reason

and follow it because of their conscience

The law of nature provides for certain natural rights….

Life – freedom from threats to our security

Liberty – freedom from other’s domination

Property – freedom to work and gain economic goods (land, houses, tools, money -- necessary for survival)

* People, by nature are reasonable and moral

Locke

Courtesy:

http//academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Lockenatural rights

Life Liberty Property

What are rights?

Human rightsCivil rights

Political rightsStudent’s rights

Rights that 1. all people are born with2. cannot be taken away

Rights – a claim to have or obtain something, or to act in a way that is justified on legal or moral grounds

Courtesy:

http//academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Locke

* People enter into social contracts and form governments to protect their rights

What is the purpose of government?

How do people running the government get the right to govern?

How should a government be organized?

Courtesy:

http//academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu

What is the purpose of government?

How do people running the government get the right to govern?

How should a government be organized?

To protect people’s natural rights

The consent of the people

* Limit power by separating power* 3 branches of government