NECESSARY EVIL Government is needed for society to function. Government is bad and should be LIMITED. Individual freedoms are the priority.

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