What would life be like in a state of nature?

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1 We the People Founders refers to all of the men and women who lived in America who were influential in creating our government. Framers refers to those delegates who met in Philadelphia to write our Constitution. What would life be like in a state of nature? Lesson 1 Objective When you finish this lesson, you should be able to explain the ideas listed on the next slide, their place in the natural rights philosophy, the source of the ideas, and how they influenced the kind of government the Founders created. 1

2 Terms of Importance 1. Natural Rights Philosophy the political philosophy that John Locke wrote about. 2. State of Nature what life would be like if there were no government. 3. Law of Nature no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions 4. Consent permission 5. Natural Rights life, liberty, and property Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. 2

3 Pondering Session 1. What is human nature, that is, what traits of personality and character, if any, do all people have in common? For example, are all people basically selfish or do they tend to care for the welfare of others? 2. What should be the purpose of government? 3. How do the people running government get the right to govern? 4. How should a government be organized? 5. What kinds of governments should be respected and supported? 6. What kinds of government should be resisted and fought? Problem Solving Session 1. Would there be any government or laws to control how you lived, what rights or freedoms you exercised, or what property you had? 2. Would anyone have the right to govern you? Would you have the right to govern anyone else? Why? 3. Would you have any rights? What would they be? Would it make any difference if you were a man or a woman? 4. What might people who were stronger that other try to do? Why? 5. What might the weaker people try to do? Why? 6. What might life be like for everyone? 3

4 Compare your answers with John Locke s We are focusing on Locke s answers because they were shared widely with Americans in the 1700 s and played a very important role in the development of our government. 1. It is clear that Locke believed that there were laws in a state of nature. He said, the state of nature has a law of nature to govern it which obliges everyone no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions. These are the same laws Thomas Jefferson stated in the Declaration of Independence. The problem with having only laws of nature is that people will disagree on what law of nature are and there would be no one or no government to help settle disagreements. 4

5 According to Locke, there wouldn t be any government because a government can t exist until it has been created. And a legitimate or just government can t exist until the people have given their consent to be ruled by it. Thomas Jefferson include this idea in the Declaration when he wrote that Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. 2. No one would have the right to govern you, nor would you have the right to govern anyone else. According to Locke, the only way anyone gets the right to govern anyone is if the person gives his or her consent. 5

6 3. You would have the right to life, liberty, and property. This means that you would have the right to defend these rights if other people threatened to take them away. These are called natural rights. We now call them fundamental, basic, or human rights. 4. Locke believed that people are basically reasonable and sociable, but that they are also selfish. Since the only protection other would have would be their own strength and cunning, the stronger would often try to take away rights from the weak. 6

7 5. Weaker people might try to band together to protect themselves from the strong. 6. Because there would be no laws that everybody agreed upon and no government to enforce them, everybody s rights would be very insecure. 7

8 Summary Locke believed in natural rights and that everyone has equal rights. He understood that people are selfish and that there would always be those that would try to take them away. The challenge was to create a way to protect our natural rights so that all could live in peace and enjoy them. Review 1. The Declaration of Independence contains some of the most important ideas of the American system of government. These are often called the natural rights philosophy. Briefly describe some of the major points of this philosophy. 2. According to Locke, what is the purpose of government? 3. It has been said that since people are not equal in their intelligence and character, it is unjust for all to have the same rights. Do you agree? Why? 8

9 Review 4. Imagine yourself living in a community where all governmental authority has broken down. Violent lawlessness is widespread. Do you think any government is better than none? Why? 5. How might your ideas about what human beings are really like influence your ideas about what type of government is best? 9