Hobbes vs. Locke
This philosopher believed that humans are naturally selfish and cruel, and that they need a strong absolute monarch to keep order.
Who is Thomas Hobbes?
A condition where there are no laws, no government, and complete disorder.
What is Anarchy?
The principle that EVERYONE—including presidents, police officers, and kings—must follow the law.
What is the Rule of Law?
An agreement where people give up some of their complete freedom in exchange for government protection and order.
What is a Social Contract?
A Police Chief gets pulled over and receives a speeding ticket just like any regular driver.
What is the Rule of Law?
John Locke believed that all people are born with these three fundamental rights.
What are Life, Liberty, and Property?
A system of government ruled by a single king or queen who inherits power through their family lineage.
What is a Monarchy?
The division of government power between three distinct branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial).
What is Separation of Powers?
A hypothetical condition where there are no laws, no police, and no government to protect anyone.
What is the State of Nature?
The Supreme Court declares a law passed by Congress to be unconstitutional and strikes it down.
What are Checks and Balances?
According to John Locke, if a government fails to protect its citizens' rights, the citizens have the right to do this.
What is overthrow or replace the government?
A form of government where a small group of wealthy elites or military leaders holds all the power.
What is an Oligarchy?
The system that allows each branch of government to limit or restrict the actions of the other branches (e.g., a Presidential veto).
What are Checks and Balances?
Rights that all human beings are born with that cannot be taken away by any government.
What are Natural Rights (or Unalienable Rights)?
On your island, all 500 citizens gather in a town hall to vote on every single island rule together.
What is a Direct Democracy?
Thomas Hobbes believed that life in a "State of Nature" would be "nasty, brutish, and..." this.
What is short?
A government that recognizes God or a divine being as the ultimate authority, where legal laws are based on religious laws.
What is a Theocracy?
The division of power between the single national (federal) government and individual state governments.
What is Federalism?
In The Hunger Games, life inside the arena (where there are no rules and everyone fights for survival) best illustrates this philosophical concept.
What is the State of Nature?
In the U.S., Washington D.C. handles national defense while state governments manage driver's licenses and public schools.
What is Federalism?
Between Hobbes and Locke, this philosopher's ideas heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Who is John Locke?
The main difference between a Direct Democracy and a Representative Democracy (Republic).
What is citizens voting on every law themselves vs. electing leaders to make laws for them?
The principle stating that the government gets its power directly from the "consent of the governed" (the people).
What is Popular Sovereignty?
When Katniss and Peeta refuse to kill each other and pull out the poison berries, they demonstrate this John Locke principle regarding abusive authority.
What is withholding consent of the governed / Right to Revolution?
"When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty." This quote by Baron de Montesquieu warns against violating this principle.
What is Separation of Powers?