Political Philosophy
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Freedom - the right to do anything of which one is capable
Liberty - the right to do anything of which one is capable within the limits of law
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Justice - fairness, fair treatment (not equal treatment !)
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Divine Rights Philosophy
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Natural Rights Philosophy
God chose certain people to rule (royal blood)
God made all people equal, people created gov’t to
protect their rights, if gov’t doesn’t protect the people’s
rights, the people may abolish the gov’t and create a new
gov’t to protect rights
Divine Rights Philosophy
(Niccolo Machiavelli)
Natural Rights Philosophy
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Aristotle
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Thomas Jefferson
 Thomas Paine
 Baron de Montesquieu
 Ben Franklin
 James Madison
Authors and their Writings
Aristotle
Politics
Niccolo Machiavelli
The Prince
Thomas Hobbes
Leviathan
John Locke
Two Treatises on Government
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
On The Social Contract
Authors and their Writings
Thomas Paine
Common Sense
Rights of Man
Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence
Baron de Montesquieu
The Spirit of The Law
Benjamin Franklin
The Albany Plan of Union
James Madison
U.S. Constitution
Niccolo Machiavelli
(1469-1527)
Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince
Written c. 1505
published 1515
Translated by W. K. Marriott
1908
Niccolo Machiavelli – The Prince
Machiavelli defends an archaic belief that a King (Prince) has the right
to do anything he wishes. (He’s writing to a King trying to get a position
in the new gov’t) Most political philosophers disagreed with these ideas
for hundreds of years, but Niccolo is trying to tell the king what he
thinks the king wants to hear. (For the job)
Machiavellian thought says “might makes right”, that if a leader has
the capability to conquer another land and the desire to own its
resources the leader should sacrifice the lives of his soldiers and use
them to fight war.
Machiavelli compares a Prince to a shepherd
Machiavelli compares the citizens to a herd of sheep
Shepherds do not keep sheep because of a love of animals; they use
them for their own well-being (Profit/Power)
A shepherd takes good care of his sheep so he maximizes profit, but a
sick sheep will be destroyed before he infects the rest of the herd.
Niccolo Machiavelli – The Prince
“It is better to be feared than loved”
Man will cooperate with a King he loves as long as it is convenient, but will obey the
King he fears and help overthrow the King he loves to protect his life.
Machiavellian principles are used today by :
football coaches (order intentional fouls that injure the opposition’s best
players, encourages the use of steroids)
political leaders (will refuse to vote for what is best for their country in
order to hurt the opposition party or help “special interests” that fund
their elections)
terrorists (injure innocent civilians to educate the world about their
problems);
employers (abuse an employee to “make an example” for the rest of the
employees or pay employees, “under the table”)
Political Philosophy of Western Civilization
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Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)
Aristotle – Politics (350 B.C.)
subjects are more likely to obey law if they can vote
democracy can work if it has checks on unlimited
popular rule)
THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1679)
•Thomas Hobbes – Leviathan (1651)
•wrote during a period of disorder)
•People were born in a state of nature (life without
Government/Law)
•People chose to create government for protection of
Life, Liberty, & Property (Among other things),
therefore, the people must obey their government
•Of Man – About human nature
•Of Commonwealth – About the nature of Government
Social Contract
•Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Freedom
for Liberty and protection of Government
John Locke (1632-1704)
John Locke – Two Treatises on Government (1690)
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(Essay about Hobbes’ Leviathan)
Social Contract
Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Freedom for
Liberty and protection of Gov’t, but if government fails to
protect citizens, then citizens have the right to abolish the
government and institute a new government
John Locke
Second Treatise on Civil Government
Man in the State of Nature
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Perfect freedom to do as they are capable within the Law of Nature
without dependence on man or law
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State of equality with all of man
Law of Nature
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“… no one ought to harm another in his life health, liberty, or
possessions”
Man forms government by the Social Contract in which Man
gives up Freedom in exchange for protection of Life,
Liberty, and Property
John Locke
Second Treatise on Civil Government
Three things found wanting in the State of Nature, which
encourages Man to enter into the Social Contract
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Established known Law to be standard of right and wrong
Impartial judges with Authority to settle differences
The Power to support and execute sentences decided by judges
The Extent of Legislative Authority
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Govern by established law, ”rule of law” (applied equally)
Law designed only for good of the people
All money raised must be with the consent of the people
Cannot transfer legislative powers to anybody else
The Dissolution of Government
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Whenever anyone makes law without Authority, uses Force without
Right… then the People shall be judge and may dissolve (overthrow) the
government as being an illegitimate government
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau – On the Social Contract (1762)
• (Essay about Hobbes’ Leviathan)
• Social Contract
• Man is born Free (state of Nature)…Trades his Freedom for Liberty and
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protection of Government However the contract has other clause…
Man places his Authority in Common (Gov’t), Common must be guided by the
General Will (consent of the governed)…
All law/lawmakers must by approved by the people (elections)… but if
government fails to protect citizens or does not continue to have the consent of
its citizens, then citizens have the right to abolish the government and institute
a new government
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
• Thomas Jefferson – Declaration of Independence (1776)
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(puts political theory into practice)
Addressed to History and the World
Espouses the Natural Rights Philosophy
Lists Complaints against the Crown
Proclaims that all 13 colonies will fight together for Independence
Thomas Paine
(1737-1809)
Thomas Paine - Common Sense (1776)
Thomas Paine - Rights of Man (1791-1792)
Explains the Seventeen Human Rights & Limits on Gov’t
Gov’t should only restrict citizens from harming each other or
Society.
Citizens have an obligation to resist gov’t interference on our
Liberties
George Washington
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SIR,
I present you a small treatise in defence of those principles of freedom which
your exemplary virtue hath so eminently contributed to establish. That the Rights of Man
may become as universal as your benevolence can wish, and that you may enjoy the
happiness of seeing the New World regenerate the Old, is the prayer of SIR,
Your much obliged, and
Obedient humble Servant,
THOMAS PAINE
Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu
(1689--1755)
Baron de Montesquieu
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The Spirit of The Law (1748)
Describes the principles of Separation of Powers
Whenever the same body of magistrates holds Executive, Legislative, and
Judicial powers…that is the definition of Tyranny
Benjamin Franklin 1706–1790
Benjamin Franklin - The Albany Plan of Union (1754)
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Rejected by the colonies; Plan to create a National colonial government
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A National government (a decade ahead of its time) to negotiate and
enforce treaties with the American Indians
James Madison
(1751 – 1836)
James Madison - U.S. Constitution (1787)
• Three branches of Government (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial)
• Change from state sovereignty to popular sovereignty