Philosophical roots of US govt.

Definitions:

-Enlightenment - a period in European history when scholars focused on using reason+logic to

understand the world.
-Natural law - A rule or pattern that always holds true.
-Political philosopher - people searching for the national laws of the government.
-State of Nature - Position of humans when there is no govt.
-CIvil society - everything humans create outside of the government.
-Social contract - agreement between government and people it governs.

Political Thomas Hobbes John Locke Jean Jacques Montesquieu

Philosopher Rousseau

Major Work Leviathan Second treatise The Social The Spirit of the
on government Contract Laws

Human Nature Fundamentally Fundamentally Fundamentally Fundamentally

selfish morally good morally good emotional;
Define good by Understand BUT corrupted neither good nor
self benefit right+wrong by society bad

Life in the State “Nasty, Brutish, Usually Starts peaceful, Civil society out
of Nature Short.” peacefully civil society of fear, but once
No civil society Civil society develops, but there was less
develops develops then limits fear, anger and
freedom violence grows.

Reason for To benefit an To punish wrong A social contract A social contract

Govt. absolute choices, in which the in which the
monarch who protecting people government
imposes rules to people and their participate in protects people
gain goods. rights protecting their from
A social contract own rights. fear+sadness.
in which people
support the
government.
And the
government.
Supports them.

Rights of Men None Life, liberty and Liberty, total self Believes in life,
property. If the government, liberty and
 government people vote on property.
Fails to protect everything. Believes in
these rights, separation of
citizens can powers.
overthrow it.

Implications for Absolute Indirect Direct Indirect

govt. monarchy democracy democracy democracy with
branches of
govt.