UNIT 1
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The people who led the American Revolution were making a fresh beginning. However, they also were heirs to philosophical and historical traditions as old as Western civilization. This unit provides an overview of some important philosophical ideas and historical events that influenced the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The founding fathers were mainly influenced by two forms of political philosophy: Classical Republicanism and Natural Rights Philosophy. In order to be successful in this unit, you must be able to understand the two different philosophies, recognize their traits, know the famous philosophers in each form, and most of all, be able to relate the principles of both philosophies to the actions of the founding fathers and the creation of the United States.
Classical Republicanism:
Classical Republicanism is a theory that the best kind of society is one that promotes the common welfare instead of the interests of only one class of citizens. In a classical republic, citizens are supposed to work cooperatively to achieve the common welfare rather than their own personal or selfish interest. The Roman Republic was thought to be one of the best examples of this type of society. Americans in the eighteenth century shared the view that citizens should work to promote the common welfare. They also believed that a republican government was the best type to serve the purpose. They thought that for a republican government to work, a society had to have three main characteristics: civic virtue, moral education, and small uniform communities.
Classical Republicanism:
Classical Republicanism is a theory that the best kind of society is one that promotes the common welfare instead of the interests of only one class of citizens. In a classical republic, citizens are supposed to work cooperatively to achieve the common welfare rather than their own personal or selfish interest. The Roman Republic was thought to be one of the best examples of this type of society. Americans in the eighteenth century shared the view that citizens should work to promote the common welfare. They also believed that a republican government was the best type to serve the purpose. They thought that for a republican government to work, a society had to have three main characteristics: civic virtue, moral education, and small uniform communities.
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Famous Classical Republican Philosophers:
Aristotle- Wrote on politics. Thought that the best representative form of government was a Constitutional Republic. Feared Democracy and mob rule. Framers of the constitution thought the same way
Polybius- Wrote the Histories. Theorized that separation of powers was est way for government to function because it kept people safe and did not become too powerful. Charles Montesquieu later wrote this as well in Spirit of the Laws
Cicero- Championed republican government and civic virtue of citizens at a time in Rome when Julius Caesar was taking power
Aristotle- Wrote on politics. Thought that the best representative form of government was a Constitutional Republic. Feared Democracy and mob rule. Framers of the constitution thought the same way
Polybius- Wrote the Histories. Theorized that separation of powers was est way for government to function because it kept people safe and did not become too powerful. Charles Montesquieu later wrote this as well in Spirit of the Laws
Cicero- Championed republican government and civic virtue of citizens at a time in Rome when Julius Caesar was taking power
Natural Rights Philosophy:
Natural Rights Philosophy is the idea that all people are born with inalienable rights that cannot be taken away. These rights, as set forth by John Locke's Second Treatise on Civil Government, are the rights to life, liberty, and estate ( which translates into property ). Natural Rights Theory also holds that people give up certain rights, mainly the freedom that comes with life in the state of nature,
in order to be secure and have their inalienable rights protected by a sovereign power.
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Famous Natural Rights Philosophers:
John Locke- Locke's fundamental argument is that people are equal and invested with natural rights in a state of nature in which they live free from outside rule. People then exchange some of their natural rights to enter into society with other people, and be protected by common laws and a common executive power to enforce the laws.
Thomas Hobbes- In general, Hobbes seeks to define the rational bases upon which a civil society could be constructed that would not be subject to destruction from within. Accordingly, he delineates how best to minimize discord, disagreement, and factionalism within society
Rousseau- Rousseau founds his idea of natural right on the principles of pity and self-preservation, which, he claims, existed before reason. One of the aims of the reconstruction of human nature that Rousseau offers is to show that an idea of natural right was possible before man became social and created political institutions, and thus he claims that the state of nature was not the terrible place that some suggest.
John Locke- Locke's fundamental argument is that people are equal and invested with natural rights in a state of nature in which they live free from outside rule. People then exchange some of their natural rights to enter into society with other people, and be protected by common laws and a common executive power to enforce the laws.
Thomas Hobbes- In general, Hobbes seeks to define the rational bases upon which a civil society could be constructed that would not be subject to destruction from within. Accordingly, he delineates how best to minimize discord, disagreement, and factionalism within society
Rousseau- Rousseau founds his idea of natural right on the principles of pity and self-preservation, which, he claims, existed before reason. One of the aims of the reconstruction of human nature that Rousseau offers is to show that an idea of natural right was possible before man became social and created political institutions, and thus he claims that the state of nature was not the terrible place that some suggest.