Consider: Can you think of anything positive about not having government?

The Last Word: Assignment 1 for tomorrow

The Big QuestionIs life without government possible?

Consider: What’s the best thing about the “state of Nature” described by Locke?

The Last Word: Assignment 2 for tomorrow

Locke and the State of Nature• How does Locke describe the State of Nature (SoN)?

• Another philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, called the SoN, “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” Is this Locke’s perspective?

• According to Locke, why do men leave the SoN?IF man in the state of nature be so free, …why will he part with his freedom? …that

though in the state of nature he hath such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain, and constantly exposed to the invasion of others: …This makes him willing to quit a condition, which, however free, is full of fears and continual dangers: and …join in society with others,… for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and … property.

…Hence, it comes to pass, that we seldom find any number of men live any time

together in this (SoN) state. The inconveniences that they are therein exposed to by the irregular and uncertain exercise of the power every man has of punishing the transgressions of others, make them take sanctuary under the established laws of government, and therein seek the preservation of their property.

- What 3 things are missing from the SoN that society needs?

Why do people agree to give up their rights and form a “social contract”?

Condition State of Nature Social Contract

What rights? Unlimited Rights

Life, Liberty, Property

Who Protects? Individuals Government

Why give up rights?

Fear of violent death

Consent

Locke and the “Ends” of Government• According to Locke, what is the “great and chief end of government”?

Life, Liberty or Property?• Think of 5 particular actions, laws, or policies of our

government.• Something that our government “does”.

– Which of these three does it fall under?• Protection of life• Protection of liberty• Protection of property

• Think of 2 issues that are debated in our society– Determine which value each side is arguing for• i.e., taxes – Protection of property (lower) vs. Protection of life

(higher, for example better healthcare and more police)

How far can “legitimate” government go?

“But though men, when they enter into society, give up the equality, liberty, and executive power they had in the state of

nature, …the power of the society, or legislative…, can never be supposed to extend farther, than the common good; but is obliged to secure every one's property, by providing against

those three defects (of the SoN, i.e., lack of settled laws, executors of the law,

and impartial judges) above mentioned that made the state of nature so unsafe and uneasy.”

- - Locke’s 2nd Treatise

What government can or should do…

• What kinds of things can we ALL agree government should do?

• Is there anything that we can ALL agree it might do but it should NOT?

The Dissolution of Government• When can

governments be “dissolved”?

• Who gets to decide when this happens?