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NECESSARY EVILGovernment is needed for society to function.
Government is bad and should be LIMITED.
Individual freedoms are the
priority.
Positive Good•Government is more than a punisher…it is a promoter of the common good.
•Government does for the community what individuals cannot do for themselves.
•Government is not just needed, it is desired. It protects us from ourselves, and provides us with safety and security.
UNNECESSARY EVIL
The eventual goal of the people is to get rid of government altogether.
Government can not help but exploit the people.
Communism…everyone works for the good of society
HOW D
ID W
E GET
HERE?
A B
RI E
F HI S
TO
RY
OF O
UR
GO
VE
RN
ME
NT .
GREAT POLITICAL THEORISTS
F R O M P L A T O T O M A R X A N D B A C K A G A I N …
PLATO427-347 BCE
The very essence of government is determined by the people who compose it.
People do not have the brains to make decisions for a whole country.
Each person should know their role…ruler, fighter, and producers
ARISTOTLE384-322 BCE
Monarchy, aristocracy, and constitutional democracy.
Monarchy is the best
Poor must have some voice.
There can be no extremes of wealth and poverty.
Machiavelli (1427-1469)
Author of The Prince Government’s Goal
Power Must get, keep, and expand power
Good Leader Ambitious, Ruthless, Crafty, Devious
ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS
WANTED TO
a) use the scientific method to understand the problems of society
b) Use reason to give hope, prosperity and happiness in this world
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
♦English philosopher Peace and freedom not possible ♦government needs absolute authority ♦People should not challenge
government
JOHN LOCKE1632-1704People are reasonable and rational
Laws are supreme and must be enforced equally
A true democratic government is a government by consent of the people.
The more communication the less need for revolution.People had certain NATURAL rights:
-- Life-- Liberty-- Property
Government needs to:1) protect these rights
2.) be overthrown if they do not protect these rights
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU
1689-1755
The best government has three separate parts that represent each part of society. (three branches)
Human reason and morality are the LAW.
VOLTAIRE (1694-1778)
Religious toleration
Freedom of the press and speech
Deist
JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU1712-1778
The people have ALL the power and it is unalienable!
The Social Contract
People need to serve the state.
Life After the Enlightenment
Limited democracy (Life, Liberty, & Property)
Church No longer had as much influence over
government tabula rasa
More religious toleration Prison as a means of rehabilitation Life became more pleasant
Learning became more popular New idea: Everyone deserved to be happy People should have personal freedoms
ENGLISH INFLUENCELimited Government &
Representative Government
Magna Carta (1215): Limits power and first effort to assert natural rights.
English Bill of Rights (1688): Established certain basic rights for all British Citizens.
KARL MARX1818-1898The people are the only ones capable of ruling! (The Proletariat/worker)Revolution will overthrow the bourgeoisie (wealthy).Workers of the world unite!V.I. LeninMao Zedong
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