philosophers Flashcards
(36 cards)
ruling is a science and you have to be trained how to do it
Plato
a good government is merely one that follows the laws
Plato
the best government mixed monarchy and democracy
Plato
good government has a constitution even if it is unwritten
Aristotle
a constitution includes shared understandings of life and the purpose of government
Aristotle
natural law is the result of humans reasoning and an innate sense of justice
Cicero
any law not rooted in natural law is invalid
Cicero
natural law is gods design for each creature to act in proscribed ways
St. Thomas Aquinas
only humans have free will and the ability to reason
St. Thomas Aquinas
humans fundamental inclination is to find gods presence
St. Thomas Aquinas
humans apply gods rules to individual behaviors by way of conscience
St. Thomas Aquinas
natural law is in every human heart and cannot be abolished for that reason
St. Thomas Aquinas
emphasizes the practicality of government, rather than idealism
Niccolo Machiavelli
the ideal singular ruler (the prince) is decisive, bold, cruel when necessary, and takes a genuine interest in people
Niccolo Machiavelli
Republics require an educated population, especially elites
Niccolo Machiavelli
A republican government must be responsive to the people and able to adapt
Niccolo Machiavelli
In a state of nature, all men are born free, equal, and autonomous
Thomas Hobbes
Without a powerful central government, life is the “war of all versus all”
Thomas Hobbes
men create a social contract to live together peacefully
Thomas Hobbes
Purpose of government is to protect us from constant state of war and abuses of others
Thomas Hobbes
Major work is second treatise on government
John Locke
builds on Hobbes idea of all men being free and equal in state of nature
John Locke
men create social contracts to avoid the “inconveniences” of independence
John Locke
sovereignty is temporarily granted to government: can always be withdrawn
John Locke