Political Philosophy
analytical Essay
1755 words
Political Philosophy
Part One (Question 2)
Aristotle, Locke, and Hobbes all place a great deal of importance on the state of nature and how it relates to the origin of political bodies. Each one, however, has a different conception of what a natural state is, and ultimately, this leads to a different conception of what a government should be, based on this natural state. Aristotle’s feelings on the natural state of man is much different than that of modern philosophers and leads to a construction of government in and of itself; government for Hobbes and Locke is a departure from the natural state of man.
Aristotle’s emphasis is on the city-state, or the political world as a natural occurrence. He says “every city-state exists by nature, since the first communities do.” (Aristotle 3). Aristotle continually reiterates the notion that the creation of a community comes from necessity; individuals aim at the highest good of all, happiness, through their own rationality, and the only way to achieve happiness is through the creation of the city-state. Aristotle follows the creation of a household and a village to the creation of the city-state in which citizens are able to come together to aim at the “good which has the most authority of all,” (Aristotle 1) happiness. In turn, this necessity for the formation of a city state comes from the idea of man as a rational being. “It is also clear why a human being is more of a political animal than a bee or any other gregarious animal… no animal has speech except for a human being.” (Aristotle 4). For Aristotle, human beings are political animals because of their ability to speak, their ability to communicate pleasures and desires, and their ability to reason. Aristotle’s state com...
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...ased on their heritage as nobles or the virtues of their fathers. Burke states that “there is no qualification for government but virtue and wisdom,” (Burke 561).
The most compelling argument for Burke against Locke is his idea that “government is not made in virtue of natural rights, which may and do exist in total independence of it… but their abstract perfection is their practical defect.” (Burke 564). Burke looks at the rights laid out by Locke and Rousseau and scoffs at them, stating that they have no merit in the real world, attractive as they are in principle. He believes that the pretended rights of these theorists are all extremes, and are therefore morally and politically false. Burke believes that “the rights of men are in a sort of middle,” (Burke 565), and their incapability of definition completely contradicts the extreme rights as defined by Locke.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that aristotle, locke, and hobbes all place a great deal of importance on the state of nature and how it relates to the origin of political bodies.
- Analyzes how aristotle's emphasis is on the city-state, or the political world as a natural occurrence.
- Compares hobbes' and locke's conceptions of the natural world, arguing that the nature of man is the idea of self-preservation and the preservation of human life.
- Compares hobbes and locke on the isolationist state of nature, while aristotle incorporates all facets of life into his idea of a political animal.
- Argues that rousseau's idea of government is that people give up their physical independence in order to gain moral freedom.
- Argues that burke's conception of philosophers is that their abstraction is irrational. burke believes that nothing can truly be abstract which succeeds because everything must be based on something else.
Related
- analytical
- Hobbes State Of Governmentanalytical essayOne of the most important foundations of Hobbes political philosophy is his reasoning for the importance of government. Hobbes argues that without the presence of government human life would be unbearable, in fact he even goes as far as to say that without government we would live a life of everlasting war with one another. In this paper I will support Hobbes’ claims as to why government is vital, I will also compare Hobbes’ description of the state of nature to the state of the world today.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that hobbes' political philosophy is based on his reasoning for the importance of government.
- Explains that hobbes believes that in the state of nature there is a perpetual war of all against all, driven by felicity, the continual success of satisfying human desires.
- Analyzes how hobbes defines power as one's present means to obtain some future apparent good. he believes that reputation of power is also power.
- Explains that hobbes believes there is no singular power to regulate people's behavior since there are no law givers, a common power, or an enforcer.
- Explains that hobbes believes that the best way of preserving one's life in the state of nature is to follow the laws of nature.
- Opines that hobbes believes that a state without government is fueled with distrust and war, where people fight for power, gain, safety, and reputation.
930 wordsRead More - Beliefs Of Locke's Leviathan By Thomas Hobbes And John Lockeanalytical essayThomas Hobbes and John Locke were both social contract theorists who set the foundational footprints for the fundamentals of political life right into our own times. The two great thinkers imagined the world without a state in order to determine the legitimacy of the state that is present in reality. They differed greatly in their notions of the ‘state of nature’ and in doing so they developed contrasting conceptions of the role of the state and the nature of rights and liberty granted to the people. Hobbes’ political regime relies on the protest that the sovereign should have unlimited rights with no dissent or dissolution such that public and private interests are parallel. On the other hand, Locke sees man as a creature of reason rather than one of desire wherein he believes that the purpose of the government is to uphold and protect the natural rights of men that are independent of the state. The dichotomy in their beliefs construes their different translations of liberty.
In this essay, the author
- Compares the views of thomas hobbes and john locke on the role of the state and the nature of rights and liberty granted to the people.
- Analyzes how hobbes maintains that human judgment is distorted to pursue self-interest ends without regard for anything other than the avoidance of pain and the incentive of pleasure.
- Analyzes how locke's view about human condition in the state of nature is not as miserable as hobbes'. he believed that god made man naturally free to pursue life, liberty, health, and property as natural rights.
- Explains that both hobbes and locke furnish a basis for the existence of political power. the origin of the state becomes pertinent in bringing laws and government to men and abandons their state of nature.
710 wordsRead More - The Influence of Locke and Hobbes on Governmentanalytical essayThomas Hobbes and John Locke have authored two works that have had a significant impact on political philosophy. In the “Leviathan” by Hobbes and “Two Treatises of Government” by Locke, the primary focus was to analyze human nature to determine the most suitable type of government for humankind. They will have confounding results. Hobbes concluded that an unlimited sovereign is the only option, and would offer the most for the people, while for Locke such an idea was without merit. He believed that the government should be limited, ruling under the law, with divided powers, and with continued support from its citizens. With this paper I will argue that Locke had a more realistic approach to identifying the human characteristics that organize people into societies, and is effective in persuading us that a limited government is the best government.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that thomas hobbes and john locke have authored two works that have had a significant impact on political philosophy.
- Explains that thomas hobbes believes that the optimal form of authority is one that has absolute power over its people, consisting of just one person who retains the exclusive ability to oversee and decide on all of society's issues.
- Analyzes hobbes' views on human nature, what the state of nature consists of, and what role morality plays in the leviathan.
- Explains that moral laws, with the principal being that people "ought to endeavour peace" with any means necessary, will not bind in foro externo in the state of nature.
- Analyzes hobbes' view that it would be rational for people to initiate an agreement that would extinguish crippling difficulties. psychological egoism has an important role in this.
- Explains that a strong ruler must come in, seize power, establish an absolute monarchy, and rule with an iron fist over those people that were recently fighting for their lives.
- Analyzes how an organized society forms in which the consequences of not adhering to the rules and regulations of the covenant will be so severe that no one would attempt to violate this contract and disobey the sovereign.
- Explains that the limitless sovereign is justified based on hobbes' views on human nature.
- Analyzes how locke concludes that hobbes' ideas are erroneous and that the ideal government would be limited, decentralized, and rule under the law and operate with separated powers.
- Compares locke's "two treatises of government" and hobbes' apocalyptic version of nature.
- Argues that locke's state of nature allows humanity to govern itself, even when taking into account issues that come with a self-interested body of people.
- Explains that the state of nature, according to locke, is a place without set government, where people have unlimited rights. the people are bound by the natural law.
- Analyzes how papadogiannis 6harm others "in their life, liberty, health, and property" and expect their own rights to be respected. hobbes would argue that the father or mother would kill their neighbor for food.
- Argues that locke's individualism is crucial when he tries to persuade his reader on the importance of a limited government.
- Analyzes locke's argument that an unlimited sovereign is an illogical notion. since the neighbor is innocent, he or she is permitted to defend their life.
- Explains that for a state of war to be avoided, common authority is imperative. citizens will have to part with some of their unlimited rights to this new government.
1741 wordsRead More - Explaining Political Philosophyanalytical essayExplaining Political Philosophy Political philosophy, or political theory, as it is also known, is about human condition, or, what humans are like. There are roughly four main kinds of political philosophy around today-Libertarianism, Socialism, Liberalism and Communitarianism. Political theory is an attempt to understand people, what we are like as individuals, what society and the state are like, and how we as humans, the state and society all interact with one and other. A social contract theory is the method of justifying political principles or arrangements by appeal to the agreement that would be made among suitably situated rational, free, and equal persons. For some philosophers this contract is reality, whereas for others it is regarded as imaginary.
In this essay, the author
- Explains political philosophy, or political theory, as it is also known, is about human condition or, what humans are like.
- Explains that social contract theory is the method of justifying political principles or arrangements by appeal to the agreement that would be made among suitably situated rational, free, and equal persons.
- Explains that plato believed that people hadn't developed their reasoning facilities, and therefore they need to be led. he calls these leaders philosopher-kings.
- Argues that plato's idea of the "philosopher-kings" and the ordinary folk was developed by elite theorists in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Analyzes how hobbes, a seventeenth century english philosopher, is generally regarded as the first modern political philosopher.
- Describes the early and elaborate development of what has come to be known as "social contract theory". he is infamous for using the social contract method to arrive at the astonishing conclusion that we should submit to ity of an absolute, undivided and unlimited, sovereign power.
- Explains that hobbes viewed society in much the same way; we all as individuals are more or less equal, we seek pleasure and avoid pain. this will undoubtedly lead to competition between individuals.
- Argues that hobbes' state of nature is so horrible that individuals would want to avoid it at all costs. people should treat their sovereign as having absolute authority.
- Explains that john locke's answer to the kind of state that people needed, in his book "two treatises on government" in 1689, was that the state of nature would be uncertain, although it would not be anywhere as bad as the hobbesian state
- Explains that locke justifies revolution and states that the state's job is to protect natural rights, such as life, liberty, and estate.
- Explains that locke's theory asks each of us as individuals to consent to state authority.
- Analyzes how rousseau argues that people are naturally strong; he envisages the state of nature as a kind of paradise.
- Explains that rousseau believed that in the state of nature people would have the important attribute of self-love.
728 wordsRead More - Political Theoryanalytical essayThroughout Federalist 10, James Madison argues that we must allow people to separate into groups according to their needs and beliefs regarding the political system of our country. These factions will protect interests and create an elevated government comprised of the most knowledgeable and educated men to protect the citizenry. His arguments reflect his status as a wealthy and educated landowner that must protect himself in the face of the common people. I will argue that Madison’s argument is flawed, which he alludes to in his writing, because he neglects to acknowledge that people are self-interested and therefore, morally corrupt. This self-interest will be the downfall of Madison’s government as private interests take root and the will of the people is ignored in all places but elections.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that madison's arguments reflect his status as a wealthy and educated landowner that must protect himself in the face of the common people.
- Analyzes how people create factions through religion, politics, race, gender, and intelligence in an attempt to simplify the world and create a system that we can understand.
- Analyzes how madison is in favor of giving the power of the political system to the minority factions, in part because he hopes this will prevent oppression, but primarily to protect his self-interests.
- Analyzes how madison's argument that the minority should be in control is disproved within federalist 10, and then years later in his reconsiderations.
- Analyzes how madison would say that these men would not be elected to power, halting the effect the faction they represent may have on the government. madison sees that the system of government that was created to protect the people is failing them and turns back on his word.
597 wordsRead More - Thomas Hobbes: Life In The State Of Natureanalytical essayLife in the state of nature is a matter that has been tackled by many philosophers throughout time and has arisen questions such as “What would life be without institutions such as government, police, courts of law?” or “Who should rule?”. Philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes or John Locke come from different times and different backgrounds and so, have different takes on the matter. The main theses of this essay is how life in the state of nature would be in concordance with the seemingly different ideologies of each Hobbes and Locke and come to the conclusion that they’re not that different. The first view that’ll be presented with the question at hand will be that of Thomas Hobbes, followed by John Locke’s.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that life in the state of nature has been tackled by many philosophers throughout time and has arisen questions like "what would life be without institutions such as government, police, courts of law?"
- Analyzes how hobbes argues that human beings seek what he calls "felicity", a state of constant happiness.
- Analyzes how hobbes defines the state of nature as a state of war, which he defines as constant readiness to fight. the social contract theory and the "leviathan" (ruler) come in.
- Analyzes how locke's state of nature is more optimistic than hobbes'. he argues that humans are property of god and should not harm others in nature.
- Analyzes how hobbes' state of nature is violent, while locke's tends to be more congenial. both agree that life in nature would be bad, hence the need for a modern society.
- Cites the stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (spring 2014 edition), edward n. zalta, jonathan wolff, oxford university press (revised edition, 2006), thomas hobbes, locke, and awnsham churchill.
1080 wordsRead More - Social, Order, And Social Order By Thomas Hobbesanalytical essayAristotle claimed that “the polis is one of those things that exist by nature, and man is an animal made to live in a polis.” For Aristotle, therefore, man is a political animal by nature. Society is an essential part of the natural state of man. For Hobbes, based on the meaning of equality, society as a political organization is precisely absent. He said: “States exist by convention, and conventions are manifestly man-made, so states are self-evidently artificial and thus nonnatural.” Moreover, Hobbes dissented from Aristotle on their understanding of the nature of man. Hobbes said that “men were not political by nature as bees and cattle were; their association depended on an agreement to observe justice among men who disagreed about who ought to receive what, and thus they needed common standards of right and wrong to regulate their affairs.” The origin of the society as a political organization therefore is the social
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the social order addressed by thomas hobbes is the same issue that mankind is confronted with today at the local, regional, and global levels.
- Explains that the 17th century political and religious conflicts and issues provided the greatest impetus for the maturation of hobbes' philosophy.
- Explains that hobbes's political theory was controversial, and his leviathan (1651) was forbidden for public reading and discourse. his political philosophy was revolutionary and innovative.
- Opines that the evidence about hobbes’s personal and intellectual contacts suggests some important implications.
- Explains that hobbes' influence in the field of political philosophy is enormous. the social contract is a philosophical discourse and not historical event.
- Argues that hobbes' foundation of philosophizing is diametrically opposed to that of aristotle (384-322 bc).
- Explains that john locke affirmed the social contract in concerning civil government. equality refers to the sameness of privileges, powers, and jurisdiction of all individuals in matters of ordering their actions.
- Analyzes how jean jacques rousseau affirmed the legitimacy of the social contract as the origin of political society.
- Explains that the three above-mentioned social contract philosophers have redefined the categories of human nature, equality, freedom, law, and justice. social contract indicates both the origin and structure of society.
- Explains that social contract is a label placed upon thomas hobbes, john locke, and jean jacques rousseau because of their overwhelming preference for social agreement.
1223 wordsRead More - In Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan, Hobbes introduces a fundamentally novel concept of the roots of politics and civic government. His ideas are based on his own views of human nature, which he believes to be disturbingly chaotic if left without structure. Hobbes believes, that the only way to guarantee society’s peace and security from such chaotic nature, is to establish a sovereign to rule over the commonwealth. Therefore, he proposes that the most practical and efficient sovereign is one that is all powerful with unlimited rights. However, although Hobbes’ mostly well-reasoned ideas create this ideal omnipotent sovereign, there are a few problems with his argument that cause it to fail; mainly because human nature does not allow for the cultivation of a covenant, the assumptions that Hobbes makes of the omnipotent sovereign is improbable if not impossible, and finally, Hobbes’ ideas regarding the rights of the sovereign are contradictory to some of his other political ideas.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes hobbes' belief that humans are fundamentally defective, and that the sovereignty must be omnipotent, with unconstrained power that rules the commonwealth indefinitely.
- Analyzes how hobbes introduces a fundamentally novel concept of the roots of politics and civic government in leviathan.
- Analyzes how hobbes' argument relies heavily on a compassionate monarch who can set aside his own interest and personal conquests for the betterment of his people.
- Analyzes how hobbes' reliance on a benevolent monarch makes his political regime seem less practical.
1127 wordsRead More - Comparing John Locke and Thomas Hobbesanalytical essayHobbes and Locke consider the formation of government from man’s own nature, whether or not government is formed because man is a social animal or if government is formed to preserve society. According to Locke, man must not "think that all government in the world is the product only of force and violence, and that men live together by no other rules but that of beasts" (page 1). "To understand political powe...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the formation of government is one of the central themes for both hobbes and locke.
- Analyzes how hobbes focuses on the interactions of man seeking the same goal. in any system of limited resources, the competitor must kill, subdue, supplant, or repel the other.
- Analyzes how hobbes deals with the qualities which man possess, and how they affect a man’s basic nature. charisma combined with military ability causes men to follow others as leaders.
- Opines that nature has made men equal, in the faculties of body, and mind. man tends to see himself as wisest in matters, whether or not others may do things better.
- Explains that hobbes and locke consider the formation of government from man's own nature, whether or not government is formed because man is a social animal or if government exists to preserve society.
- Explains that unlike hobbes, locke applies the term to the idea of reason by saying that if man reasons about the fundamental concerns that government arises to protect life and property, man can come to certain natural conclusions about how they should be protected.
- Analyzes locke's central theme of the distribution of property. everything belongs to mankind in general until a man decides to acquire something from its pure state in nature.
- Explains locke's belief that if someone takes more land than he can use, and it spoils, or allows crops to whither without being picked, they are committing crimes against humanity.
- Analyzes how hobbes points out the basic nature of man's interactions with each other, but he is not saying that man is fundamentally evil.
- Explains that locke focuses on the nature of crime and justice. mankind may not do justice to an offender, take away, or impair the life.
- Analyzes how hobbes compares the laws of nature versus human law. human laws are imposed by men who recognize their natures and freely give up some of their rights so that others will do so.
- Explains locke's state of 'perfect equality', whereby men give up some of their free rights for others of protection and guarantees of safety and property.
- Concludes that a government should protect life and prevent loss of property, but these protections aren't guaranteed. competition and crime are still problems even though governments exist.
1267 wordsRead More - Hobbes and Lockeanalytical essayHobbes, on the other hand attested to a role of government akin to monarchy or dictatorship. His definition of the role of the state is a direct inversion of Locke’s. He states society is a creation of the state and therefore the governed surrender their rights so the state can fulfill its main func...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hobbes and locke's conclusions on man and society create a polarizing argument when held in comparison to each other.
- Analyzes locke's broad conclusion about the role of the state, stating that society has given birth to a state to defend unalienable rights that define justice.
- Analyzes how hobbes' definition of the role of government is a direct inversion of locke's. the general set of rules constitutes the social contract set over society in exchange for the protection
- Compares how each theory defines the function of the state. locke and hobbes are polar opposites in their reasoning of how a state is created.
- Explains that hobbes' iteration of the social contract derives from his belief that humans are incapable of governing themselves and if left to do so will only achieve a state of war.
- Explains that hobbes' social contract and locke's natural law serve the same function in each theory: to avoid a state of war.
- Compares how hobbes employs his social contract in lieu of natural law, whereas locke claims that due to enlightened self-interest, humans are social and peaceful creatures capable of governing themselves.
- Explains that it is peculiar that both these theories have grown from two different answers to the same question: how would the interactions of completely equal, ungoverned people evolve over time?
869 wordsRead More