Comparison
May 10, 2023•405 words
Guide
| Philosopher | State of Nature | Duty of Citizen | Rights of citizen | Role of Gov | Type of Gov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plato | Learn \n Follow reason | Class-based soc | Help subjects achieve wisdom | Philosopher king \n Guardians | |
| Aristotle | Hierarchies \n beings have function | Achieve telos \n | Achieve happiness | Polity is most important \n Social cooperation \n Strong middle class \n Impartial law | Polity/aristocracy \n Strong middle class |
| Hobbes | Choas \n Exited through gov | Obey gov \n | None, rebel maybe under threat of life | Order \n To rule law, religion, all powers, determine property and justice | Absolute monarchy |
| Locke | Gives rights \n to defend prop \n people vulnerable | Respect law \n Give up some rights to government | Property \n make laws \n Rebel \n Punish transgressors \n Religion | Protect life, liberty, and prosperity \n Make and enforce laws \n | Republic/ representative \n constitutional \n |
| Spinoza | Ind strives for self-preservation \n Leads to choas \n People born equal \n People ignorant | Learn to live under reason \n Ally and respect state \n Search for truth | Rights protected by state \n Freedom preserved by state \n Religious tolerance for the tolerant \n Law errs on their side \n Speech and expression | Security of citizens, equality, common wellfare, freedom \n Goal is freedom | Rep. Democracy, people have a say but not all should have access |
| Montesquieu | To be motivated in gov by some virtue | Should not be oppressed by absolute power | Create and maintain rule of law | Separation of powers \n Type depends on how the gov works \n Rule of law | |
| Rousseau | It is paradise \n Property creates inequality \n Society corrupts man, who is born good \n Amour de soi | Submit to the general will \n But aside their interests in an interdependent society | Gov must reflect their will \n Right to property and liberty \n Make laws | Allow interdependent people to operate cohesively \n Prevent inequality and exploitative social relations \n Protect liberty and maintain peace \n Right over spiritual matters | Depends on size of the state \n Citizens must participate in making laws \n Aristocracy |
| Burke |