Week 8 review

Some of the major beliefs and ideas of the Enlightenment Period included:

Reason & science

Progress, liberty, and tolerance

All of the above

None of the above

A voluntary agreement among individuals (or individuals and a government) which secure mutual protection and regulate the relations among its members. Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau all had varying versions of this concept.

Separation of Powers

Social Contract

General Will

Natural Rights

God-given rights which the government cannot give you (because you naturally have them by simply being alive), nor can they be taken away from you.

Separation of Powers

Social Contract

General Will

Natural Rights

Montesquieu promoted this idea of breaking up the government into three different entities in order to create “checks and balances.”

Separation of Powers

Social Contract

General Will

Natural Rights

How did Thomas Hobbes view human nature?

Capable of good when given enough freedom

Morally neutral when in a “state of nature,” but corrupted by human institutions)

Corrupt and inclined towards destruction

How did John Locke view human nature?

Capable of good when given enough freedom

Morally neutral when in a “state of nature,” but corrupted by human institutions

Corrupt and inclined towards destruction

How did Jean-Jacques Rousseau view human nature?

Capable of good when given enough freedom

Morally neutral when in a “state of nature,” but corrupted by human institutions

Corrupt and inclined towards destruction

What was Hobbes’ version of the Social Contract?

Limited government; power coming solely from the consent of the governed; government’s purpose is to protect “life, liberty, and property.

Autocratic government, where the people consent to an all-powerful leader.

The people voluntarily give up many of their personal desires and rights in order to benefit the “greater good.” Ultimately, they consent to the “general will” of the community.

What was Locke’s version of the Social Contract?

Limited government; power coming solely from the consent of the governed; government’s purpose is to protect “life, liberty, and property.

Autocratic government, where the people consent to an all-powerful leader.

The people voluntarily give up many of their personal desires and rights in order to benefit the “greater good.” Ultimately, they consent to the “general will” of the community.

What was Rousseau’s version of the Social Contract?

Limited government; power coming solely from the consent of the governed; government’s purpose is to protect “life, liberty, and property.

Autocratic government, where the people consent to an all-powerful leader.

The people voluntarily give up many of their personal desires and rights in order to benefit the “greater good.” Ultimately, they consent to the “general will” of the community.