Political Philosophy of the US Constitution

PlatoSociety:• Considered all war to be fought over money

• Believed that all humans are essentially Good, but are inherently different--everyone has different strengths which only education fully develops

• Social roles, including leadership, must be based on strengths of the individual

• Education instills virtue, integrity, and citizenship

PlatoGovernment:• Believed in a self-sufficient community, led by a Philosopher-king

• Educated to lead• instilled with the virtues of philosophy• Unpaid, so uncorrupt-able

• Social roles dependent on talent

• Responsibility for survival dependent on community collaboration

• The “Masses” can be trusted because they are governed by reason, but shouldn’t lead because they have other strengths

PlatoPlato’s Republic

• Examines justice • People are NOT all equal

• Three levels of individuals:• Philosophers (Gold)• Guardians (Silver)• Masses (Bronze)

AristotleSociety:• Thought that humans are unique animals because of their

ability for reason and complex speech

• Humans are not born good or bad, but are a born blank slate, a “tabula rosa”

• Society and education instills the ability to “reason” good choices

• Society is defined as the unification of people for the common good and mutual benefit

Aristotle• Government

• Good:

• King -rises up from the people to lead- rule by one

• Aristocracy -group of nobles assassinate tyrant and lead- few

• Democracy -the people rise up to lead all people- many

• Bad:

• Tyrant -dynasty turns corrupt with power after several generations- one

• Oligarchy -powerful nobles turn corrupt- few

• Mobocracy -people seek self interest, tyranny of the majority, too many voices heard- many

Thomas HobbesSociety:• Considered all humans to be naturally wicked and evil

• Competing for survival and resources• Based on greed and self-interest• Can not be trusted• Might makes right

• Believed that humans are in a constant state of war due to selfishness and scarcity• Social stability only occurs through a social contract-an

agreement to stop killing each other

Thomas HobbesGovernment:• Because humans can’t be trusted, believed that the best

government is an absolute monarchy

• Absolute Monarchy-Leviathan • Why government should have absolute authority to

wield power to protect life

• The Masses agree to give up freedom for peace and security (social contract)

Thomas Hobbes• Life is nasty, brutish, and short• State of nature is war• Hobbes believed civil war was the ultimate terror,

the definition of fear itself. • Security is most important

John LockeSociety:• All humans are naturally capable of rational thought• All humans use reason to settle differences and

compromise• The “State of Nature” is one of total liberty and freedom

• Natural reason results in natural equality between all humans• Humans all depend on property to satisfy their survival

needs

John LockeGovernment:• Humans are naturally rational• Humans use reason to govern themselves independently• Rejected Divine Right, focused on the individual• Important to protect “life, Liberty, and Property”• Limit power of the government by a separation of power to

check and balance• People enter into a “Social Contract” to allow peaceful

government, but always have the right to rebel if life, liberty, and property are threatened

John Locke• Second Treatise on Government• People are equal and invested with natural rights in

a state of nature in which they live free from outside rule• Natural law governs behavior, and each person has

license to execute that law against someone who wrongs them by infringing on their rights

John Locke• "If man in the state of nature be so free as has been said, if

he be absolute lord of his own person and possessions, equal to the greatest and subject to nobody, why will he part with his freedom, this empire, and subject himself to the dominion and control of any other power? To which it is obvious to answer, that though in the state of nature he hath such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain and constantly exposed to the invasion of others; for all being kings as much as he, every man his equal, and the greater part no strict observers of equity and justice, the enjoyment of the property he has in this state is very unsafe, very insecure."

John Locke• Government exists for the people's benefit and can

be replaced or overthrown if it ceases to function toward that primary end• Consent of the governed – enter into social

contract to protect property and ensure liberty

Baron De Montesquieu

Society:• Considered the French government to be too lavish• Believed that religion corrupted governments,

especially Christianity• Considered women to be weak, but valuable

participants in political process• Approved of slavery and the natural inequality of

the races

Baron De Montesquieu

Government:• Believed in secular, but ethical, governments• Considered limited monarchy to be the most stable

government• Separation of powers essential to stop abuse and

corruption=Checks and Balances• Participation based on educated

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Society: • All humans are born free, independent and good• People would naturally life happily• Modern society corrupts people• Focus on industry (dehumanized labor)• Focus on money making• Focus on technology

• Society makes people unhappy

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Government:• Best political unit is small

• Best government is a direct democracy, with decisions made by simple majority (of men)

• All decisions made locally, according to the needs of the community

• Considered elected executives necessary

• Believed that government should protect freedom

Jean-Jacques Rousseau• “Man is born free, yet he is everywhere in chains”• “Will of all” vs. “General will”

• The general will can never err, as it is always aimed at the public good

• The will of all is an aggregate of individual self-interest (tyranny is possible)

• Purpose of political community is to create a society where everyone chooses the laws that govern them • “Men must be forced to be free”• By nature, men are unequal• Making everyone a citizen in society makes them equal

under the law

Social Contract Theorists

Thomas Hobbes: The Leviathan John Locke: Second Treatise on Government Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Social Contract

• Three fundamental ideals which exemplifies the Social Contract:• Natural Rights• Classical Republicanism• Constitutionalism

Social Contract

• A social contract is an act by which individuals agree to form a government. • The social contract theory states that governments are established by the people who combine to achieve a common outcome.

Voltaire• He was a courageous polemicist who fought for civil

rights (the right to a fair trial, freedom of speech and freedom of religion) and who denounced the hypocrisies and injustices of the Ancien Régime, which involved an unfair balance of power and taxes between the First Estate (the clergy), the Second Estate (the nobles), and the Third Estate (the commoners and middle class, who were burdened with most of the taxes). Voltaire saw the French bourgeoisie as too small and ineffective, the aristocracy as parasitic and corrupt, the commoners as ignorant and superstitious, and the church as a static force useful only to provide backing for revolutionaries.