Political Philosophy Quiz: Rousseau and Paine

Rousseau's View of Sovereignty

• Rousseau argued that sovereignty resides in the people, not in a monarch or any other individual.
• He believed that the general will of the people should guide the government and law-making.

Paine's Proposal for Colonial Government

• Thomas Paine proposed a representative republic as the form of government for the independent colonies.
• He advocated for a system where the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Paine's View on Monarchy

• Paine believed that monarchy originated from the illegitimate claims of power by those who sought to control others.
• He saw it as a form of tyranny and argued against its legitimacy.

Paine's Perspective on Government

• Paine viewed government as a necessary evil, designed to protect the liberties of individuals and ensure the common good.
• He believed that its power should be limited and subject to the consent of the governed.

Rousseau vs. Hobbes on the State of Nature

• Rousseau's conception of the state of nature differed from Hobbes' view, suggesting it was a peaceful and harmonious state.
• Rousseau believed that humans were naturally independent and free, while Hobbes saw the state of nature as a "war of all against all."

Leader of France During Louis XIV's Childhood

• While Louis XIV was a child, the de facto leader of the French government was his mother, Anne of Austria, who held the regency title.
• She ruled with the aid of Cardinal Mazarin.

Louis XIV's Personal Emblem

• At the start of his reign, Louis XIV chose the Sun as his personal emblem.
• This symbol represented his absolute authority and the belief that he was the center of power.

Louis XIV's Coronation Oath

• During his coronation, Louis XIV swore to defend the Catholic faith and the rights of the French people.
• This oath reaffirmed his role as the divinely ordained ruler of France.

Edict of Fontainebleau

• The Edict of Fontainebleau, signed by Louis XIV, revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had granted religious freedom to Protestants in France.
• This act led to the persecution of Protestants and their emigration from France.

Rousseau's View of Natural Man

• According to Rousseau, natural man is physically free from constraints and limitations. He exists in a state of natural autonomy.
• He believed that human's innate capacity for freedom is limited by their dependence on others in a society.

Rousseau's View on Societal Ills

• Rousseau believed that societal ills, such as inequality, injustice, and moral decay, were primarily caused by the development of private property and the establishment of a complex social hierarchy.
• He argued that society corrupted the natural goodness of humans.

Rousseau's View on Good Government

• Rousseau considered the most fundamental objective of good government to be the preservation of individual liberty while ensuring the common good.
• He believed that a government should reflect the general will of the people.

Rousseau's Aim in Political Works

• Through The Social Contract and other political works, Rousseau aimed to outline a framework for a political system based on social contract theory, where individuals voluntarily surrender some of their freedoms in exchange for the benefits of a shared society.
• His goal was to create a system that balanced individual liberty with collective good.