Political TheoryPolitical Theory

Plato Plato (428-348 B.C.)(428-348 B.C.)

The best government is The best government is one that seek “Truth”one that seek “Truth”

Government that seeks Government that seeks the “Truth” will be justthe “Truth” will be just

“The philosopher is in love with truth, that is, not with the changing world of sensation, which is the object of opinion, but with the unchanging reality which is the object of knowledge.”(Plato, 380BC)

The Republic

Aristotle Aristotle (384-322 BC)(384-322 BC)

Man is a “social” animalMan is a “social” animal Man is destined to live under governmentMan is destined to live under government ““Just” government serves the interests of its Just” government serves the interests of its

participants and deserves their attentionparticipants and deserves their attention Envisioned a constitutional republicEnvisioned a constitutional republic

Politics

St. Thomas AquinasSt. Thomas Aquinas(1225-1274)(1225-1274)

Man is subject to Natural LawMan is subject to Natural Law Man can discern the law of God Man can discern the law of God

without being subject to the churchwithout being subject to the church Government must respect the Law of Government must respect the Law of

NatureNature Man has rights with the Law of Nature Man has rights with the Law of Nature

that are superior to the rights of any that are superior to the rights of any entity that subjects manentity that subjects man

Summa Theologica

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes(1588-1679)(1588-1679)

Man is essentially an “evil” animalMan is essentially an “evil” animal Government is a “necessity” and therefore is Government is a “necessity” and therefore is

“just”“just” Government exists as a “Social Contract” Government exists as a “Social Contract”

between the people for the purpose of between the people for the purpose of preserving “social order” and their preserving “social order” and their governmentgovernment

Government should serve its citizens, to Government should serve its citizens, to protect their natural rightsprotect their natural rights

Government must have a higher order of Government must have a higher order of right than any individual within that right than any individual within that governmentgovernment

The Leviathan

John LockeJohn Locke(1632-1704)(1632-1704)

Man has basic natural rightsMan has basic natural rights Natural rights include: Life, Liberty, PropertyNatural rights include: Life, Liberty, Property Government must be created that respects Government must be created that respects

those rightsthose rights Government that does not respect the natural Government that does not respect the natural

rights of individuals inherently has no authorityrights of individuals inherently has no authority Law has an “equivalence” to rightLaw has an “equivalence” to right

Two Treatises on Government

MontesquieuMontesquieu(1689-1755)(1689-1755)

““government should be set up so that no man government should be set up so that no man need be afraid of another”need be afraid of another”

Three functions of government:Three functions of government: ExecutiveExecutive LegislativeLegislative JudicialJudicial

These functions of government should be These functions of government should be “separate from, but dependent on, each other”“separate from, but dependent on, each other”

VoltaireVoltaireFrançois-Marie Arouet François-Marie Arouet

(1694-1778)(1694-1778)

Man is a “rational animal” and as such Man is a “rational animal” and as such can reason the “truth”.*can reason the “truth”.*

Government is a rational function that Government is a rational function that protects the natural rights of its protects the natural rights of its citizens.citizens.

Government is a secular enterprise, Government is a secular enterprise, and not subject to higher authority.and not subject to higher authority.*Often understood as the justification for majority rule

RousseauRousseau(1712-1778)(1712-1778)

Man has “natural” rights that supersede Man has “natural” rights that supersede any privileges that may be granted by any privileges that may be granted by governmentgovernment

Proper government is one that respects Proper government is one that respects the natural rights of manthe natural rights of man

Government is a “contract” between men, Government is a “contract” between men, subjecting themselves voluntarily to rule subjecting themselves voluntarily to rule based on a respect for their rightsbased on a respect for their rights

Sovereignty of government comes from Sovereignty of government comes from the “common will” of the people via the the “common will” of the people via the Rule of LawRule of Law

The Social Contract