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Political Philosophy: the study of the nature and justification of political institutions. Nov 20: The justification of political authority • Natural Law (Pufendorf), Social Contract (Hobbes), Natural Rights (Locke) Nov 27: The role of government
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Political Philosophy: the study of the nature and justification of political institutions Nov 20: The justification of political authority • Natural Law (Pufendorf), Social Contract (Hobbes), Natural Rights (Locke) Nov 27: The role of government • Liberalism (Rawls), Libertarianism (Nozick), Communitarianism (Sandel) Nov 29: Individual Liberty and the Limits of Governmental Interference: Mill, Feinberg
Natural Law:Samuel Pufendorf (1632-94) • Human beings are naturally sociable and are obligated through God-given laws of nature to do what is necessary to survive • We form and must respect civil governments as means to achieve our natural (and rational) ends
Social Contract Theory:Thomas Hobbes • Fear of others in the state of nature (apart from society) prompts people to enter into a social contract • Governmental authority is based on the choice of individuals to give up their rights and keep their promise to abide by the social contract in order to achieve peace (1588-1679)
Natural Rights:John Locke (1632-1704) • We have God-given rights to our life, liberty, and property (gained through labor) • We establish governments to clarify and protect our freedom and natural rights (especially the ownership of property) • State authority is based on the explicit or tacit consent of the majority of a people