Political Philosophies Quiz.pdf

1. Machiavelli ("The Ends Justify the Means") Nature of Man: People are selfish and greedy. Life in the State of Nature: People are evil unless forced to do good. Why Form Governments?: To protect the state, manage resources, and control people. Best Type of Government: Mona...

1. Machiavelli ("The Ends Justify the Means") Nature of Man: People are selfish and greedy. Life in the State of Nature: People are evil unless forced to do good. Why Form Governments?: To protect the state, manage resources, and control people. Best Type of Government: Monarchy (a prince leading). Purpose of Government: Protect the nation and its holdings by any means. 2. Hobbes ("Life is Nasty, Brutish, and Short") Nature of Man: People are inherently evil and selfish. Life in the State of Nature: Violent and chaotic. Why Form Governments?: To keep us out of the state of nature. Best Type of Government: Absolute monarchy. Purpose of Government: Enforce laws, secure peace, and provide social contracts. 3. Locke ("For the mutual preservation of our lives, liberties, and estates") Nature of Man: People tend to be peaceful. Life in the State of Nature: Peaceful but with the risk of violence. Why Form Governments?: To protect natural rights like life, liberty, and property. Best Type of Government: Representative democracy. Purpose of Government: Protect people's natural rights and ensure property rights. 4. Rousseau ("Man is Born Free, and Everywhere He is in Chains") Nature of Man: Man is peaceful and society corrupts him. Life in the State of Nature: Total peace (although it never existed). Why Form Governments?: To allow people to exercise their general will for the common good. Best Type of Government: Direct democracy. Purpose of Government: Enable people to make laws for the public good. 5. Montesquieu ("…as man enters into a state of society, then commences a state of war.") Nature of Man: Timid and fearful, but society turns people violent. Life in the State of Nature: People avoided conflict out of fear. Why Form Governments?: To stop conflicts and establish laws. Best Type of Government: Parliamentary democracy with separation of powers. Purpose of Government: Maintain law and order, protect liberty, and safeguard individual rights.