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Necessary Evil

Necessary Evil. Government is needed for society to function. Government is bad and should be LIMITED. Individual freedoms are the priority. Positive Good. Government is more than a punisher…it is a promoter of the common good.

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Necessary Evil

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  1. Necessary Evil • Government is needed for society to function. • Government is bad and should be LIMITED. • Individual freedoms are the priority.

  2. Positive Good • Government is more than a punisher…it is a promoter of the common good. • Government does for the community what individuals cannot do for themselves. • Government is not just needed, it is desired. It protects us from ourselves, and provides us with safety and security.

  3. Unnecessary Evil • The eventual goal of the people is to get rid of government altogether. • Government can not help but exploit the people. • Communism…everyone works for the good of society

  4. How did we get here? A brief history of our government.

  5. Great Political Theorists From Plato to Marx and back again…

  6. Plato • 427-347 BCE • The very essence of government is determined by the people who compose it. • People do not have the brains to make decisions for a whole country. • Each person should know their role…ruler, fighter, and producers

  7. Aristotle • 384-322 BCE • Monarchy, aristocracy, and constitutional democracy. • Monarchy is the best • Poor must have some voice. • There can be no extremes of wealth and poverty.

  8. Machiavelli (1427-1469) • Author of The Prince • Government’s Goal • Power • Must get, keep, and expand power • Good Leader • Ambitious, Ruthless, Crafty, Devious

  9. Enlightenment Thinkers WANTED TO a) use the scientific method to understand the problems of society b) Use reason to give hope, prosperity and happiness in this world

  10. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • ♦English philosopher • Peace and freedom not possible • ♦government needs absolute authority • ♦People should not challenge government

  11. John Locke • 1632-1704 • People are reasonable and rational • Laws are supreme and must be enforced equally • A true democratic government is a government by consent of the people. • The more communication the less need for revolution. • People had certain NATURAL rights: • -- Life • -- Liberty • -- Property • Government needs to: • 1) protect these rights • 2.) be overthrown if they do not protect these rights

  12. Baron de Montesquieu • 1689-1755 • The best government has three separate parts that represent each part of society. (three branches) • Human reason and morality are the LAW.

  13. Voltaire (1694-1778) • Religious toleration • Freedom of the press and speech • Deist

  14. Jean-Jacques Rousseau • 1712-1778 • The people have ALL the power and it is unalienable! • The Social Contract • People need to serve the state.

  15. Life After the Enlightenment • Limited democracy (Life, Liberty, & Property) • Church • No longer had as much influence over government • tabula rasa • More religious toleration • Prison as a means of rehabilitation • Life became more pleasant • Learning became more popular • New idea: Everyone deserved to be happy • People should have personal freedoms

  16. English Influence • Limited Government & Representative Government • Magna Carta (1215): Limits power and first effort to assert natural rights. • English Bill of Rights (1688): Established certain basic rights for all British Citizens.

  17. Karl Marx • 1818-1898 • The people are the only ones capable of ruling! (The Proletariat/worker) • Revolution will overthrow the bourgeoisie (wealthy). • Workers of the world unite! • V.I. Lenin • Mao Zedong

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