Why Government?Why Government?

Answer in small Answer in small groups:groups:

What do What do you you think?think?

What is human nature?What is human nature?What would life be like without a What would life be like without a

government?government?What minimum functions must government What minimum functions must government

serve?serve?

Have one person take notes on your group discussion Have one person take notes on your group discussion and hand them in for participation credit. and hand them in for participation credit.

Human Nature in Human Nature in Hobbes’ Hobbes’ LeviathanLeviathan EqualityEquality

EqualityEquality

Nature hath made men so equal in the faculties of Nature hath made men so equal in the faculties of body and mind as that, though there be found one body and mind as that, though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body or of man sometimes manifestly stronger in body or of quicker mind than another, yet when all is reckoned quicker mind than another, yet when all is reckoned together the difference between man and man is together the difference between man and man is not so considerable as that one man can thereupon not so considerable as that one man can thereupon claim to himself any benefit to which another may claim to himself any benefit to which another may not pretend as well as he. For as to the strength of not pretend as well as he. For as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination or by strongest, either by secret machination or by confederacy with others that are in the same confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself.danger with himself.

All men in a “state of All men in a “state of nature”nature” EqualEqual Equal ability to compete for Equal ability to compete for

resourcesresources

CompetitionCompetition

From this equality of ability ariseth equality From this equality of ability ariseth equality of hope in the attaining of our ends. And of hope in the attaining of our ends. And therefore if any two men desire the same therefore if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemiesenjoy, they become enemies … …

All men in a “state of All men in a “state of nature”nature” EqualityEquality Equal ability to compete Equal ability to compete Competition leads to fear Competition leads to fear (A few are also motivated to fight (A few are also motivated to fight

for ego)for ego)

Causes of warCauses of war

So that in the nature of man, we find three So that in the nature of man, we find three principal causes of quarrel. First, principal causes of quarrel. First, competition; secondly, diffidence; thirdly, competition; secondly, diffidence; thirdly, glory. glory.

The first maketh men invade for gain; the The first maketh men invade for gain; the second, for safety; and the third, for second, for safety; and the third, for reputation. The first use violence, to make reputation. The first use violence, to make themselves masters of other men's persons, themselves masters of other men's persons, wives, children, and cattle; the second, to wives, children, and cattle; the second, to defend them; the third, for trifles…defend them; the third, for trifles…

War of all against allWar of all against all

Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of war, where Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of war, where every man is enemy to every man, the same consequent to every man is enemy to every man, the same consequent to the time wherein men live without other security than what the time wherein men live without other security than what their own strength and their own invention shall furnish them their own strength and their own invention shall furnish them withal. In such condition there is no place for industry, withal. In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving and removing such things as require instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

Is this understanding of Is this understanding of human nature a good human nature a good foundation for foundation for designing a designing a government?government?

How would you design How would you design a government around a government around the idea that people the idea that people are inherently selfish?are inherently selfish?

The argument in The argument in Federalist 51?Federalist 51?

Federalist 51Federalist 51

Preserve liberty by giving each Preserve liberty by giving each department a will of its owndepartment a will of its own

Don’t trust politicians to restrain Don’t trust politicians to restrain their lust for powertheir lust for power– ““Ambition must be made to Ambition must be made to

counteract ambition.”counteract ambition.”

Federalist 51Federalist 51

It may be a reflection on human nature, that It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; in the government to control the governed; in the next place oblige it to control itself. next place oblige it to control itself.

Do checks and balances Do checks and balances work? work?

Does ambition Does ambition counteract ambition?counteract ambition?

Do checks and balances Do checks and balances enforce themselves? enforce themselves? What might interfere What might interfere with their operation?with their operation?

Why government?Why government?

If there is no security, life is not If there is no security, life is not worth living.worth living.

Why else?Why else?

Other reasons for Other reasons for governmentgovernment

Selfish behavior can lead to bad Selfish behavior can lead to bad results for everyoneresults for everyone

ExternalitiesExternalities

Tragedy of the commonsTragedy of the commons