Political PhilosophersPolitical Philosophers

Philosophical base Philosophical base Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau is one of the is one of the

most important political philosophers. most important political philosophers. He argued that life without He argued that life without government would be terrible because government would be terrible because people compete with each other for people compete with each other for resources, threatening freedom and resources, threatening freedom and safety. He said that people agree to safety. He said that people agree to exchange some freedom for security exchange some freedom for security in a in a social contractsocial contract with government. with government. As long as the government serves and As long as the government serves and protects the people, the people should protects the people, the people should agree to obey.agree to obey.

Taking the Taking the view that all view that all people are people are nasty and nasty and self-self-interested, interested, what would what would the perfect the perfect type of type of government government be? be?

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Hobbes believed some people Hobbes believed some people were much stronger and were much stronger and smarter than others, but smarter than others, but almost everyone was almost everyone was motivated by basic self-motivated by basic self-interest. He said that people interest. He said that people enter into the social contract enter into the social contract with a governmental authority with a governmental authority to protect themselves and to protect themselves and their interests.their interests.

Are people basically good or evil?Are people basically good or evil?

John LOCKEJohn LOCKE

Locke believed people were Locke believed people were basically reasonable and equal. basically reasonable and equal. He said that liberty is the most He said that liberty is the most important political value, and a important political value, and a good government would be good government would be protective of individual rights. protective of individual rights. He said that people should be He said that people should be willing to obey a government willing to obey a government that protects their basic rights:that protects their basic rights: life, liberty, and property.life, liberty, and property.

Karl MarxKarl Marx

Marx thought that all societies Marx thought that all societies were defined by class struggleswere defined by class struggles. . He believed that workers were He believed that workers were exploited by the rich with the exploited by the rich with the help of governments and help of governments and religion. Marx believed the religion. Marx believed the workers should take over the workers should take over the means of production such as means of production such as corporations or businesses and corporations or businesses and then use that wealth and power then use that wealth and power to help everybody.to help everybody.

What causes government corruption What causes government corruption and social injustice?and social injustice?

Why do rich people always have more Why do rich people always have more power than poor people?power than poor people?

How do rich people get rich and poor How do rich people get rich and poor people get poor?people get poor?

MontesquieuMontesquieu Montesquieu believed in Montesquieu believed in

monarchy, but set government up monarchy, but set government up in a way that no part of it could in a way that no part of it could become completely dominant. become completely dominant. His His ideas are called “separation of ideas are called “separation of powers” or “checks and powers” or “checks and balances.” balances.” He wanted to He wanted to separating government into separating government into different parts, and give each part different parts, and give each part a different power. One part would a different power. One part would be law making, one part law be law making, one part law enforcing, and another part law enforcing, and another part law interpreting. Each part would interpreting. Each part would have the power to stop the other have the power to stop the other parts and no part would have all parts and no part would have all the power.the power.