Summary of Philosophers-1

Summary of Political Philosophers Can people be trusted to govern themselves?

Aristotle ? Greek philosopher who believed that humans reach their highest potential when they succeed in living in moderation and not to extremes. We should all strive for the "golden mean." Politically, he favored a society in which the average middle-class citizen were educated and would participate in governing. Distrusted wealthy or poor.

Thomas Hobbes ? English philosopher who argued that all humans are naturally wicked. Believed that an absolute monarchy--one that gives all power to a king or queen--is the best form government. Thought governments were created to protect people from their own selfishness.

John Locke ? English philosopher who believed that people have the ability to reason and make good decision. Thought governments should be formed only with the approval of the people they are governing. Supported a constitutional monarchy whereby a king shared power with democratic representatives in the English Parliament.

Mary Wollstonecraft ? English writer who argued for equal rights for women. Wrote A Vindication of the Right of Women, in which she argued that women should participate equally with men, both in the home and in civic life. Believed women should have equal rights in education, business, and government.

Plato ? Greek philosopher who argued that talent determined each person's proper role in society. Believed that everyone should be educated to learn how to become a good citizen. Feared democracy as mob rule, and believed that the ideal government would be ruled by a philosopherking, chosen to be an absolute ruler for his intelligence.

Voltaire ? French philosophe whose passion for freedom of speech and press led him to spend time in a French prison. He distrusted most people in position of power because he believed they would use their power to oppress others. At first saw "enlightened monarchy" as the best form of government, but later recognized that any form of government could be used to protect rights or overturn rights of its citizens. Jean-Jacques Rousseau ? Swiss philosopher who believed that society had corrupted the natural goodness in people. Argued that only through direct democracy--where people vote in person to make all laws--can people's freedom be protected.

Baron de Montesquieu ? French political thinker who established the idea of "separation of powers," whereby a king executed laws, a democratically elected body made laws, and courts interpreted laws. This meant government should be divided into different branches so that no individual or group could gain too much power and threaten liberty.

Directions: Read the quotations below, and match them to the philosophers above by writing the number before each quotation next to the face of the philosopher who said it. 1. "The powers of government should be divided into separate branches: one that makes law, a second that interprets

law and third that enforces law." 2. "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" 3. "All people are born good, but society corrupts them." 4. "Rulers need absolute power to establish order." 5. "The best way to govern is to allow the most intelligent people to make the decisions of governing." 6. "People are generally reasonable and make good decision." 7. "All of society would benefit from equality and the end of male domination over woman." 8. "Not the upper class, not the lower classes, but the average middle class people should be in charge of

government."

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