Political Philosophy: Sovereign Power and Social Contract

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Questions and Answers

What was the response to 'classical liberalism' that incorporated Locke's core ideas, especially natural rights and the right to property?

Conservatism

Where did modern conservatism begin, and how was it qualified?

Britain and France; qualified as liberal individualism

What type of legitimacy did modern conservatism favor?

Bottom-up legitimacy (consent of the people)

What mechanism did modern conservatism propose to prevent potential oppressors?

Checks and Balances Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first defender of modern conservatism, and what was the title of his influential work?

Sir William Blackstone; 'Commentaries on the Laws of England' Signup and view all the answers

According to conservatives, what is the source of love of liberty?

Custom and tradition, not a random choice Signup and view all the answers

Who amplified Blackstone's ideas in the 18th and 19th centuries, and what was the focus of their work?

Friedrich von Hayek; focused on the concrete inheritance of people and institutions, not abstract ideas of political legitimacy Signup and view all the answers

What term was invented to describe traditionalist and loyalist sentiments during a period of conflict?

Tory Signup and view all the answers

What was Thomas Hobbes' main concern that led him to advocate for an absolute sovereign?

The avoidance of chaos and disorder, which he witnessed during the civil war Signup and view all the answers

What was the main idea behind James Harrington's 'Commonwealth of Oceana'?

A republican government in a capitalist society with a written constitution, secret ballots, and bicameral government Signup and view all the answers

What is the source of natural law according to John Locke?

The inner sense of our rights recognized by all reasoning beings Signup and view all the answers

What is the condition for a government to be legitimate according to John Locke?

The consent of the governed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the separation of powers in Montesquieu's view?

To guarantee the liberties of the subject Signup and view all the answers

What type of government did Montesquieu believe could balance the powers of government?

An aristocratic government Signup and view all the answers

What was the main influence on John Locke's ideas about government?

Richard Hooker Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Hobbes' and Locke's views on government?

The role of the sovereign and the importance of consent Signup and view all the answers

Where did the schools of economists emerge during the Enlightenment period?

France Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Encyclopedia of d'Alembert and Diderot?

It paved the way for the French Revolution by critiquing religion, tradition, and aristocracy. Signup and view all the answers

What are the titles of Adam Smith's notable works?

The Theory of Moral Sentiments, The Wealth of Nations, and Lectures on Jurisprudence Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of the 'impartial spectator' in Adam Smith's work?

Evaluating actions and decisions by imagining how a fair or unbiased observer would view them. Signup and view all the answers

What is Adam Smith's conception of justice?

A negative virtue (refraining from injuring others) essential for society's order. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between freedom and responsibility in Adam Smith's view?

Freedom comes with responsibility founded in sympathy that makes us self-reflect. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of institutions in Adam Smith's idea of civil society?

To ensure responsibilities are not evaded or abused. Signup and view all the answers

What is the core idea of conservatism according to Adam Smith?

Freedom with responsibility, shaped by institutions and attitudes that benefit all. Signup and view all the answers

What is the highest freedom according to the Tory attitude?

Right opinion, correct response, and sensible emotion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between liberals and conservatives regarding institutions?

Liberals believe that political order arises from individual liberty, while conservatives believe that liberty arises from political order. Signup and view all the answers

What is the central question that divides liberals and conservatives?

What comes first, liberty or order? Signup and view all the answers

How did conservatism begin?

As a hesitation within liberalism. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main difference between the American and French Revolutions?

The American Revolution was influenced by conservative ways of thinking, seeking to preserve old rights, while the French Revolution was characterized by romantic individualism and a desire to create a new order. Signup and view all the answers

What was Thomas Jefferson's view on independence and government?

Independence is a continuity of legal order, and government should adapt to the conditions of society rather than being dictated by abstract ideas. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Virginia Declaration of Rights?

It extracted rights from the common law, highlighting the importance of legal tradition and continuity. Signup and view all the answers

What united liberals and conservatives in the face of new threats?

The growth of the modern state. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of prejudice, according to Burke, in moments of decision?

To give people previous knowledge and allow them to act without hesitation. Signup and view all the answers

How does Burke define tradition in relation to knowledge?

A form of knowledge that knows what to do to achieve success. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of good manners in Burke's concept of practical knowledge?

They illustrate higher forms of practical knowledge, similar to Aristotle's virtues. Signup and view all the answers

What is the central idea of Hobbes' social contract?

My obligations are my own creation because they are freely chosen. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Rousseau's and Burke's views on social contracts?

Rousseau's views are based on abstract individuals guided by agreements, while Burke's views emphasize the importance of social exclusivity and privileges. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the social contract, according to Burke?

To establish a common jurisdiction and maintain social harmony. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between freedom and obedience in Rousseau's philosophy?

Freedom and obedience are seen as equivalent, as obedience is a free choice. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the concept of membership in social contract theory?

It enables individuals to conceive of relationships with each other in contractual terms. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hobbes believed that the sovereign has absolute power to enforce the contract against those wanting to break it, and that this is necessary to prevent chaos and disorder.
Hobbes' ideas were influenced by his experience of the civil war and the cruelty and disorder that came with the fall of the government.

Commonwealth of Oceana and Republican Government

James Harrington proposed an ideal secular state in his work "Commonwealth of Oceana".
Harrington was influenced by Machiavelli and wanted a republican government in a capitalist society as the most stable political system.
He advocated for a written constitution, secret ballots, and a bicameral government, and believed in the idea of "Empire of laws, not of men".

John Locke and Natural Law

John Locke's "Two Treatises of Civil Government" was influenced by Hooker's ideas.
Locke believed that natural law gives an inner sense of our rights, and that there are natural laws recognized by all reasoning beings.
He argued that individuals have inalienable rights to life, freedom, and private property, and that government needs consent to be legitimate.

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, admired Locke and the English constitution, and wrote "The Spirit of Laws".
Montesquieu believed that the spheres of government are the executive, legislative, and judicial, and that they should be separated to guarantee the liberties of the subject.
He argued that an aristocratic government would balance these powers, and that an absolute monarchy or government by the common people couldn't do this.

Conservatism and Liberalism

Conservatism emerged as a response to "classical liberalism" and incorporated Locke's core ideas, especially natural rights and the right to property.
Modern Conservatism began in Britain and France and was qualified as liberal individualism, with a bottom-up legitimacy (consent of the people).
Conservatives favored constitutional government, checks and balances, and the protection of individuals from potential oppressors.

Sir William Blackstone and Friedrich von Hayek

Sir William Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England" argued that the English constitution and common law are solutions to the problems of social conflict and the need for orderly government.
Friedrich von Hayek amplified Blackstone's ideas, focusing on the concrete inheritance of people and institutions, and bringing historical and empirical content to the theory of natural law.

The Tory Attitude and the Separation of Liberals and Conservatives

The term "Tory" was invented to describe traditionalist and loyalist sentiments that animated the royalist faction in the government.
The Tory attitude values eccentricity and independence as obedience, and believes that freedom is not an escape from obligation but a call to obey them.
Liberals and conservatives began to divide between them the new territory of post-religious politics, with liberals believing that political order comes from individual liberty, and conservatives believing that liberty comes from political order.

American and French Revolutions

The American Revolution was influenced by conservative ways of thinking, aiming to keep old rights that the British took.
Thomas Jefferson was a key figure in the American Revolution, and his ideas were influenced by conservative thinkers like Blackstone.
The French Revolution, on the other hand, was characterized by romantic individualism and a desire to completely dismantle the old order and create a new one.

Adam Smith and the Theory of Moral Sentiments

Adam Smith's "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" argued that human communities are founded on a "mutual sympathy of sentiments", and that we seek approval from others.
He developed the Theory of the Impartial Spectator, which suggests that we evaluate actions and decisions by imagining how a fair or unbiased observer would view them.
Smith believed that a society of free individuals is founded in sympathetic feelings, not in reason, and that institutions exist to ensure responsibilities are not evaded or abused.

Edmund Burke and the Role of Tradition

Edmund Burke argued that prejudice has a motive to give action to reason, and that traditions are essential in shaping the responsible citizen.
He believed that institutions exist to ensure responsibilities are not evaded or abused, and that maybe we cannot reason, so traditions are essential.
Burke saw tradition as a form of knowledge of knowing what to do to do something successfully, and that success is measured in the harmony of result in human needs and interests.

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Description

Explore the ideas of Hobbes and Harrington on the role of sovereign power and the social contract in shaping government and society.