Preliminary Remarks on Locke's The Second Treatise of Government (T2)
|
|
- Jacob Hancock
- 5 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 Preliminary Remarks on Locke's The Second Treatise of Government (T2) Locke's Fundamental Principles and Objectives D. A. Lloyd Thomas points out, in his introduction to Locke's political theory, that there are a number of principles held by Locke that, while radical in the seventeenth century, are taken for granted in contemporary liberal democracies. Thomas states these principles as follows: 1. The citizens of a state, no matter what differences might exist between them in social status, authority, or wealth, are basically equal in political standing. (II.95) 2. Each citizen is equal to all the others in that each possesses certain individual rights which limit what any citizen may do to any other. These rights also limit what the state may do to any of its citizens. 3. Those who hold authority in the system of government, or in other political institutions, are to be regarded as doing so not for their own gain, advantage or prestige, but in order to further the good of their fellow citizens. 4. Government is instituted to ensure that the rights of all citizens are respected, and to promote the good of the citizens. 5. As governments are instituted only for the benefit of the citizens, if the citizens no longer consent to how they are being governed and wish to be rid of their governors, the government ceases to have any moral right to be in power. In these circumstances the use of force by the people, if necessary, is morally justified as a last resort. 1 Locke's aim was to construct a theory of political authority consistent with these five principles. There also existed at the time an opposition between natural equality (a radical view defended by Locke) and natural hierarchy (a position defended by Sir Robert Filmer and widely accepted at the time). Note the latter is very different from the conservatism of authoritarians such as Hobbes, who would have accepted (1) and (3) above. 2 In his Second Treatise Locke wants to show two things about the state. The first is that there can be a legitimate state, i.e. one the existence of which is consistent with its citizens' natural rights. Here Locke stands in opposition to those anarchists who deny that a legitimate state, in this sense, is possible. The other is that armed rebellion, all-out revolution, can be justified when the conditions for the legitimacy of government cease to be satisfied. Locke is conscious of the conservative objection that if you support the legitimacy of government then you cannot also say that rebellion is sometimes justifiable. He proposes to meet this objection by developing a 'core' social contract theory from which both the possibility of legitimate government, and of justifiable rebellion, can be derived. 3 1 D. A. Lloyd Thomas, Locke on Government, London: Routledge, 1995, Ibid. 12f. 3 Ibid. 14. Page 1 of 5 T2-preliminaries.doc T. R. Quigley 2/26/06
2 Natural Law, Rights, and Property 4 To fully understand Locke's argument for these propositions, let's start with the role played by natural law and natural rights in his political theory. Natural Law 1. When Locke talks about natural law he's talking about something that is normative, not descriptive. In other words, natural law does not describe the way people actually behave. Rather it stipulates how people ought to behave. This means that civil laws are not necessarily in harmony with natural law. The two are logically independent. The political objective, according to Locke, is to get the civil laws to be consistent with the natural law. 2. The law of nature is a law of reason. We also learn what the natural law is through the use of reason. [These claims are distinct. The former is logical; the latter epistemological. Is that what Locke intended?] 3. Natural law is established by the will of God and is revealed in the scriptures. Human beings are required by God to act in accordance with the natural law. Thus, the natural law as understood by reason should be the same as the natural law revealed in the scriptures. In other words, the will of God is consistent with reason. 4. The law of nature is universal and applies to all people in all places at all times. However, this leaves open the possibility that different cultures will have different ways of expressing and conforming to the natural law. There is no reason to expect all social customs and laws to be identical. Notice that this account says neither what the specific law of nature is nor how we are supposed to use our reason to discover it. According to Locke, the fundamental law of nature (FLN) is that human life, as much as possible, should be preserved. 5 [II.183] The FLN specifies an end to be achieved, but says nothing about the means to achieving that end. (In this sense, Locke's view is teleological, i.e. goal directed.) Thus, the FLN is a kind of rule to guide the determination of other, secondary or derivative laws of nature (DLN) that indicate how we should behave in order to achieve the preservation of human life and, thus, live in harmony with God's will and reason. So, how can reason function as a guide to achieving the goal of preservation? Since the FLN specifies only an end and not the means to an end, natural rights must follow from derivative laws of nature, not from the fundamental law of nature. Each DLN follows logically from the FLN and the normal circumstances of life. 4 Ibid Ibid. 16 Page 2 of 5 T2-preliminaries.doc T. R. Quigley 2/26/06
3 Consider, for example, Locke's views on property in 26. All human beings have access to the earth and its fruits for their sustenance. This is a DLN. It follows from the FLN because without such access we would perish. Therefore, it follows that people cannot justly be denied access. Locke's justification of the harm principle in 6 is another instance of a DLN following logically from the FLN. It also introduces Locke's assumption that human beings are the creation and property of God. Locke further assumes that since God created us, His intention is that we live as long as He chooses. Thus, we have no right to take our own lives or the lives of others. Natural Rights As we saw above, natural rights are rights conferred by derivative natural laws. They derive from the DLN because the FLN specifies only the goal and not the means to attain that goal. In general, natural rights in Locke's view seem to be rights of self-ownership. [II.27] 6 These rights protect our freedom to control our own lives consistent with the rights of others to do the same. This raises a question: The natural right of self-ownership seems to contradict Locke's claim that humans are created by and are, for that reason, the property of God. Is there a way to resolve this apparent contradiction? Perhaps, as Thomas suggests, Locke is considering ownership from two different perspectives. With respect to our relationship to God, we have no more than a lease hold on our lives and cannot terminate them if we are so inclined. With respect to our relationship to one another, we have a free hold on life. 7 Locke seems to treat natural rights as something one owns. Persons also own themselves. But there are other natural rights that are not property rights, e.g. the right to that which was promised to you. 8 We'll return to the topic of property when we examine the arguments in detail. For now, notice that Locke defends private property not for the sake of the rich and against the poor, but "against possible unconstrained encroachment by the state". [Section #?] Thus, Locke's views on property play a surprising and significant role in his argument for limited political authority. State of Nature Locke seems to allow only two mutually exclusive possibilities of political organization: the state of nature or civil society. The burden of T2 is to show how one can legitimately get from the former to the latter. In the state of nature "all persons are free, equal, and independent" free, that is, to act in accord with the law of nature. 9 [II.4-6] By equality he means that everyone has the same natural rights 6 Ibid Ibid. 18f. 8 Ibid Ibid. 20. Page 3 of 5 T2-preliminaries.doc T. R. Quigley 2/26/06
4 (except for children, idiots, and the insane) simply in virtue of the fact that they are persons. [II.59-60] Political authority entails moral inequality due to the fact that if one person has political authority over another, then the one with authority has a moral right to the obedience of the other in certain respects. So, for Locke, if there can be justifiable inequalities it must be possible to show how this can be so, starting out from a position of moral equality. The equality of persons in the state of nature also refers to the idea that in the state of nature people are in an equal position to know what the law of nature is, for the law of nature is known by reason, and all 'normal' people have reason. 10 As noted above, the law of nature says what people ought to do, not what they will do. So it's possible that some will violate the rights of others. When they do, those whose rights are violated have the second-order right to try to enforce their first-order rights. This is known as the "executive power of the law of nature". [II.7-13, 74, 87, 105] It has three aspects: 1. The right to judge whether or not a law of nature has been violated. 2. The right to use force, if necessary, to prevent such violations. 3. The right to assess offence and impose appropriate punishment. Locke justifies the right to punish with the following argument [II.7]: The law of nature would be 'in vain' if there were no power to enforce it. God does nothing in vain. Therefore, as God has made such a law there must be an appropriate power. Now in the state of nature there is no civil power, and therefore the earthly power to enforce the law of nature must lie in the hands of persons as individuals. The standing of persons is equal in the state of nature. Therefore if anyone has the power to enforce the law of nature, everyone must have it. So, everyone has it (with the usual exceptions, such as children and the insane). 11 Since the exercise of these rights may very often lead to complications and conflicts, it makes sense for people to give up some of these rights to a political authority responsible for their proper and rational execution. Locke defines political authority and power in the following way: Political power, then, I take to be a right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently all less penalties, for the regulating and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community in the execution of such laws, and in the defence of the commonwealth from foreign injury, and all this only for the public good. 12 [II.3] 10 Ibid Ibid Ibid. 23. Page 4 of 5 T2-preliminaries.doc T. R. Quigley 2/26/06
5 Lloyd Thomas notes that: Although Locke thinks that there is good reason why the executive power of the law of nature should come to be in the hands of a single authority, that authority would not be legitimate unless the original owners of the executive power of the law of nature consented to relinquish it. Thus Locke is committed to giving a contract argument for legitimate government. 13 One final note: Any right the government has must come from the rights of individuals in the state of nature. But all rights in the state of nature are natural rights. Thus, all rights held by the government are, or are derived from, natural rights. T. R. Quigley, 2003 Last revision: 26 Feb Ibid. 25. Page 5 of 5 T2-preliminaries.doc T. R. Quigley 2/26/06
Summary of Locke's Second Treatise [T2]
Summary of Locke's Second Treatise [T2] I. Introduction "Political power" is defined as the right to make laws and to enforce them with penalties of increasing severity including death. The purpose of
More informationMaking Decisions on Behalf of Others: Who or What Do I Select as a Guide? A Dilemma: - My boss. - The shareholders. - Other stakeholders
Making Decisions on Behalf of Others: Who or What Do I Select as a Guide? - My boss - The shareholders - Other stakeholders - Basic principles about conduct and its impacts - What is good for me - What
More informationSocratic and Platonic Ethics
Socratic and Platonic Ethics G. J. Mattey Winter, 2017 / Philosophy 1 Ethics and Political Philosophy The first part of the course is a brief survey of important texts in the history of ethics and political
More informationTo link to this article:
This article was downloaded by: [University of Chicago Library] On: 24 May 2013, At: 08:10 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office:
More informationTake Home Exam #2. PHI 1700: Global Ethics Prof. Lauren R. Alpert
PHI 1700: Global Ethics Prof. Lauren R. Alpert Name: Date: Take Home Exam #2 Instructions (Read Before Proceeding!) Material for this exam is from class sessions 8-15. Matching and fill-in-the-blank questions
More informationPhil 114, February 15, 2012 John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Ch. 2 4, 6
Phil 114, February 15, 2012 John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Ch. 2 4, 6 Natural Freedom and Equality: To understand political power right, Locke opens Ch. II, we must consider what State all
More informationCourse Syllabus Political Philosophy PHIL 462, Spring, 2017
Instructor: Dr. Matt Zwolinski Office Hours: 1:00-3:30, Mondays and Wednesdays Office: F167A Course Website: http://ole.sandiego.edu/ Phone: 619-260-4094 Email: mzwolinski@sandiego.edu Course Syllabus
More informationfactors in Bentham's hedonic calculus.
Answers to quiz 1. An autonomous person: a) is socially isolated from other people. b) directs his or her actions on the basis his or own basic values, beliefs, etc. c) is able to get by without the help
More informationPhil 114, February 29, 2012 Sir Robert Filmer, Observations Concerning the Originall of Government
Phil 114, February 29, 2012 Sir Robert Filmer, Observations Concerning the Originall of Government, p. 234 (bspace) John Locke, First Treatise of Government, Ch. 4 41 43 (review), Ch. 9 84 103 (review)
More informationHistoric Roots. o St. Paul gives biblical support for it in Romans 2, where a law is said to be written in the heart of the gentiles.
Historic Roots Natural moral law has its roots in the classics; o Aristotle, in Nichomacheon Ethics suggests that natural justice is not the same as that which is just by law. Our laws may vary culturally
More informationPHI 1700: Global Ethics
PHI 1700: Global Ethics Session 9 March 3 rd, 2016 Hobbes, The Leviathan Rousseau, Discourse of the Origin of Inequality Last class, we considered Aristotle s virtue ethics. Today our focus is contractarianism,
More informationTHE MORAL ARGUMENT. Peter van Inwagen. Introduction, James Petrik
THE MORAL ARGUMENT Peter van Inwagen Introduction, James Petrik THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSIONS of human freedom is closely intertwined with the history of philosophical discussions of moral responsibility.
More informationHere's a rough guide to topics that we discussed in class and that may come up in the exam.
Contemporary Civilization ~ Fall 2004 STUDY GUIDE FOR FINAL EXAM Here's a rough guide to topics that we discussed in class and that may come up in the exam. Mediaeval Philosophy General problem common
More informationDoes law have to be effective in order for it to be valid?
University of Birmingham Birmingham Law School Jurisprudence 2007-08 Assessed Essay (Second Round) Does law have to be effective in order for it to be valid? It is important to consider the terms valid
More informationThis leads to conflicting ideas: How can there be a right to property before there is Law?
LECTURE 7 John Locke: Property Rights John Locke believes: There are some rights so fundamental that no government can over-ride them Those fundamental rights include the Natural Rights of Life, Liberty,
More informationPhilosophical Ethics. The nature of ethical analysis. Discussion based on Johnson, Computer Ethics, Chapter 2.
Philosophical Ethics The nature of ethical analysis Discussion based on Johnson, Computer Ethics, Chapter 2. How to resolve ethical issues? censorship abortion affirmative action How do we defend our moral
More informationAn Epistemological Assessment of Moral Worth in Kant s Moral Theory. Immanuel Kant s moral theory outlined in The Grounding for the Metaphysics of
An Epistemological Assessment of Moral Worth in Kant s Moral Theory Immanuel Kant s moral theory outlined in The Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (hereafter Grounding) presents us with the metaphysical
More informationPrécis of Democracy and Moral Conflict
Symposium: Robert B. Talisse s Democracy and Moral Conflict Précis of Democracy and Moral Conflict Robert B. Talisse Vanderbilt University Democracy and Moral Conflict is an attempt finally to get right
More informationThe dangers of the sovereign being the judge of rationality
Thus no one can act against the sovereign s decisions without prejudicing his authority, but they can think and judge and consequently also speak without any restriction, provided they merely speak or
More informationHume: Of the Original Contract
Hume: Of the Original Contract David Hume (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher; possibly the most important philosopher to write in English. p p p g Like Locke, an empiricist, but of a much more radical (or
More informationComment on Martha Nussbaum s Purified Patriotism
Comment on Martha Nussbaum s Purified Patriotism Patriotism is generally thought to require a special attachment to the particular: to one s own country and to one s fellow citizens. It is therefore thought
More informationKANT, MORAL DUTY AND THE DEMANDS OF PURE PRACTICAL REASON. The law is reason unaffected by desire.
KANT, MORAL DUTY AND THE DEMANDS OF PURE PRACTICAL REASON The law is reason unaffected by desire. Aristotle, Politics Book III (1287a32) THE BIG IDEAS TO MASTER Kantian formalism Kantian constructivism
More informationBenjamin Visscher Hole IV Phil 100, Intro to Philosophy
Benjamin Visscher Hole IV Phil 100, Intro to Philosophy Kantian Ethics I. Context II. The Good Will III. The Categorical Imperative: Formulation of Universal Law IV. The Categorical Imperative: Formulation
More informationLaw and Authority. An unjust law is not a law
Law and Authority An unjust law is not a law The statement an unjust law is not a law is often treated as a summary of how natural law theorists approach the question of whether a law is valid or not.
More informationFUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE METAPHYSIC OF MORALS. by Immanuel Kant
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE METAPHYSIC OF MORALS SECOND SECTION by Immanuel Kant TRANSITION FROM POPULAR MORAL PHILOSOPHY TO THE METAPHYSIC OF MORALS... This principle, that humanity and generally every
More informationChapter 2 Determining Moral Behavior
Chapter 2 Determining Moral Behavior MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A structured set of principles that defines what is moral is referred to as: a. a norm system b. an ethical system c. a morality guide d. a principled
More informationRawls s veil of ignorance excludes all knowledge of likelihoods regarding the social
Rawls s veil of ignorance excludes all knowledge of likelihoods regarding the social position one ends up occupying, while John Harsanyi s version of the veil tells contractors that they are equally likely
More informationPROFESSOR HARTS CONCEPT OF LAW SUBAS H. MAHTO LEGAL THEORY F.Y.LLM
PROFESSOR HARTS CONCEPT OF LAW SUBAS H. MAHTO LEGAL THEORY F.Y.LLM 1 INDEX Page Nos. 1) Chapter 1 Introduction 3 2) Chapter 2 Harts Concept 5 3) Chapter 3 Rule of Recognition 6 4) Chapter 4 Harts View
More information(i) Morality is a system; and (ii) It is a system comprised of moral rules and principles.
Ethics and Morality Ethos (Greek) and Mores (Latin) are terms having to do with custom, habit, and behavior. Ethics is the study of morality. This definition raises two questions: (a) What is morality?
More informationSecond Treatise of Government, by John Locke Second Lecture; February 9, 2010
Second Treatise of Government, by John Locke Second Lecture; February 9, 2010 family rule is natural; why wouldn't that be the model for politics? not only natural, but religion likes it this is a difficult
More informationConsider... Ethical Egoism. Rachels. Consider... Theories about Human Motivations
Consider.... Ethical Egoism Rachels Suppose you hire an attorney to defend your interests in a dispute with your neighbor. In a court of law, the assumption is that in pursuing each client s interest,
More informationTHE CONCEPT OF OWNERSHIP by Lars Bergström
From: Who Owns Our Genes?, Proceedings of an international conference, October 1999, Tallin, Estonia, The Nordic Committee on Bioethics, 2000. THE CONCEPT OF OWNERSHIP by Lars Bergström I shall be mainly
More informationKANTIAN ETHICS (Dan Gaskill)
KANTIAN ETHICS (Dan Gaskill) German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was an opponent of utilitarianism. Basic Summary: Kant, unlike Mill, believed that certain types of actions (including murder,
More informationHobbes On Citizenship
Hobbes On Citizenship Dr. Wang Li Peking University China Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679 Hobbes political philosophy works The elements of law, natural and political (1640) On the citizen(1642) Leviathan(1651)
More informationKant, Deontology, & Respect for Persons
Kant, Deontology, & Respect for Persons Some Possibly Helpful Terminology Normative moral theories can be categorized according to whether the theory is primarily focused on judgments of value or judgments
More informationMitigating Operator-Induced Vehicle Mishaps
The Life Most Worth Living: Virtue Theory in ancient and modern perspective Bill Rhodes, PhD Mitigating Operator-Induced Vehicle Mishaps Professional Education, Moral Neurophysiology, and Results-Based
More informationQ2) The test of an ethical argument lies in the fact that others need to be able to follow it and come to the same result.
QUIZ 1 ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDIA, BUSINESS AND SOCIETY WHAT IS ETHICS? Business ethics deals with values, facts, and arguments. Q2) The test of an ethical argument lies in the fact that others need to be
More informationNatural Law Theory. See, e.g., arguments that have been offered against homosexuality, bestiality, genetic engineering, etc.
Natural Law Theory Unnatural Acts Many people are apparently willing to judge certain actions or practices to be immoral because those actions or practices are (or are said to be) unnatural. See, e.g.,
More informationCritical Reasoning and Moral theory day 3
Critical Reasoning and Moral theory day 3 CS 340 Fall 2015 Ethics and Moral Theories Differences of opinion based caused by different value set Deontology Virtue Religious and Divine Command Utilitarian
More informationJohn Locke and Religious Liberty
CHAPTER 2 John Locke and Religious Liberty Abstract Alzate analyzes John Locke s theory of religious liberty found in A Letter Concerning Toleration to elucidate the individual s right of religious belief
More informationTHE ETHICAL BASIS OF JURISPRUDENCE
Yale Law Journal Volume 19 Issue 7 Yale Law Journal Article 5 1910 THE ETHICAL BASIS OF JURISPRUDENCE WILLIAM S. PATTEE Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/ylj Recommended
More informationCHAPTER 2 Test Bank MULTIPLE CHOICE
CHAPTER 2 Test Bank MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A structured set of principles that defines what is moral is referred to as: a. a norm system b. an ethical system c. a morality guide d. a principled guide ANS:
More informationChapter 3 PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS AND BUSINESS CHAPTER OBJECTIVES. After exploring this chapter, you will be able to:
Chapter 3 PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS AND BUSINESS MGT604 CHAPTER OBJECTIVES After exploring this chapter, you will be able to: 1. Explain the ethical framework of utilitarianism. 2. Describe how utilitarian
More informationJean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract, or Principles of Political Right (1762)
Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract, or Principles of Political Right (1762) Source: http://www.constitution.org/jjr/socon.htm Excerpts from Book I BOOK I [In this book] I mean to inquire if, in
More informationEthics Handout 19 Bernard Williams, The Idea of Equality. A normative conclusion: Therefore we should treat men as equals.
24.231 Ethics Handout 19 Bernard Williams, The Idea of Equality A descriptive claim: All men are equal. A normative conclusion: Therefore we should treat men as equals. I. What should we make of the descriptive
More informationA Categorical Imperative. An Introduction to Deontological Ethics
A Categorical Imperative An Introduction to Deontological Ethics Better Consequences, Better Action? More specifically, the better the consequences the better the action from a moral point of view? Compare:
More informationWhat one needs to know to prepare for'spinoza's method is to be found in the treatise, On the Improvement
SPINOZA'S METHOD Donald Mangum The primary aim of this paper will be to provide the reader of Spinoza with a certain approach to the Ethics. The approach is designed to prevent what I believe to be certain
More informationHUME AND HIS CRITICS: Reid and Kames
Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive All Faculty Publications 1986-05-08 HUME AND HIS CRITICS: Reid and Kames Noel B. Reynolds Brigham Young University - Provo, nbr@byu.edu Follow this and additional
More informationTOPIC 27: MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS
TOPIC 27: MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS 1. The Morality of Human Acts Human acts, that is, acts that are freely chosen in consequence of a judgment of conscience, can be morally evaluated. They are either good
More informationPhil 114, April 24, 2007 until the end of semester Mill: Individual Liberty Against the Tyranny of the Majority
Phil 114, April 24, 2007 until the end of semester Mill: Individual Liberty Against the Tyranny of the Majority The aims of On Liberty The subject of the work is the nature and limits of the power which
More information4 Liberty, Rationality, and Agency in Hobbes s Leviathan
1 Introduction Thomas Hobbes, at first glance, provides a coherent and easily identifiable concept of liberty. He seems to argue that agents are free to the extent that they are unimpeded in their actions
More informationTHE SYNOD OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA IN THE DIOCESE OF WILLOCHRA INCORPORATED
THE CONSTITUTION PAGE 1 THE SYNOD OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA IN THE DIOCESE OF WILLOCHRA INCORPORATED PREAMBLE WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the regulation management and more effectual
More informationCHAP. II. Of the State of Nature.
Excerpts from John Locke, Of Civil Government CHAP. II. Of the State of Nature. Sec. 4. TO understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally
More informationRawls, rationality, and responsibility: Why we should not treat our endowments as morally arbitrary
Rawls, rationality, and responsibility: Why we should not treat our endowments as morally arbitrary OLIVER DUROSE Abstract John Rawls is primarily known for providing his own argument for how political
More informationLaw of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on Freedom of Worship (25/10/1990)
Law of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on Freedom of Worship (25/10/1990) I. GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1. The Purpose of This Law The purpose of the Law of the RSFSR on Freedom of Worship
More informationPowerful Arguments: Logical Argument Mapping
Georgia Institute of Technology From the SelectedWorks of Michael H.G. Hoffmann 2011 Powerful Arguments: Logical Argument Mapping Michael H.G. Hoffmann, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Available
More informationMILL ON JUSTICE: CHAPTER 5 of UTILITARIANISM Lecture Notes Dick Arneson Philosophy 13 Fall, 2005
1 MILL ON JUSTICE: CHAPTER 5 of UTILITARIANISM Lecture Notes Dick Arneson Philosophy 13 Fall, 2005 Some people hold that utilitarianism is incompatible with justice and objectionable for that reason. Utilitarianism
More informationCONVENTIONALISM AND NORMATIVITY
1 CONVENTIONALISM AND NORMATIVITY TORBEN SPAAK We have seen (in Section 3) that Hart objects to Austin s command theory of law, that it cannot account for the normativity of law, and that what is missing
More informationPolitical Science 103 Fall, 2018 Dr. Edward S. Cohen INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Political Science 103 Fall, 2018 Dr. Edward S. Cohen INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY This course provides an introduction to some of the basic debates and dilemmas surrounding the nature and aims
More informationGalileo Galilei Sir Isaac Newton Laws of Gravity & Motion UNLOCKE YOUR MIND
UNLOCKE YOUR MIND THE ENLIGHTENMENT IN EUROPE 1650-1800 THE ENLIGHTENMENT IN EUROPE Enlightenment: intellectual movement Philosophes: Intellectual Thinkers Inspired by the Scientific Revolution: Apply
More information- We might, now, wonder whether the resulting concept of justification is sufficiently strong. According to BonJour, apparent rational insight is
BonJour I PHIL410 BonJour s Moderate Rationalism - BonJour develops and defends a moderate form of Rationalism. - Rationalism, generally (as used here), is the view according to which the primary tool
More informationAre Humans Always Selfish? OR Is Altruism Possible?
Are Humans Always Selfish? OR Is Altruism Possible? This debate concerns the question as to whether all human actions are selfish actions or whether some human actions are done specifically to benefit
More informationLocke's Theory of Property: A Re-examination
Locke's Theory of Property: A Re-examination PETER PAUL CVEK University of Kansas Among the many contemporary interpretations of John Locke'8 political philosophy, the works of Leo Strauss 1 and C. B.
More informationLogic, Truth & Epistemology. Ross Arnold, Summer 2014 Lakeside institute of Theology
Logic, Truth & Epistemology Ross Arnold, Summer 2014 Lakeside institute of Theology Philosophical Theology 1 (TH5) Aug. 15 Intro to Philosophical Theology; Logic Aug. 22 Truth & Epistemology Aug. 29 Metaphysics
More informationIntroduction: Belief vs Degrees of Belief
Introduction: Belief vs Degrees of Belief Hannes Leitgeb LMU Munich October 2014 My three lectures will be devoted to answering this question: How does rational (all-or-nothing) belief relate to degrees
More informationDEMOCRACY, DELIBERATION, AND RATIONALITY Guido Pincione & Fernando R. Tesón
1 Copyright 2005 Guido Pincione and Fernando R. Tesón DEMOCRACY, DELIBERATION, AND RATIONALITY Guido Pincione & Fernando R. Tesón Cambridge University Press, forthcoming CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION CONTENTS
More informationChapter 2 Ethical Concepts and Ethical Theories: Establishing and Justifying a Moral System
Chapter 2 Ethical Concepts and Ethical Theories: Establishing and Justifying a Moral System Ethics and Morality Ethics: greek ethos, study of morality What is Morality? Morality: system of rules for guiding
More informationHuman Rights, Democracy and Three Famous Trials
The presentation of Iraklis Millas in the meeting of "1 st Annual Human Rights Education Programme for Southeastern Europe", Olympia, 17-27 September 2000. Human Rights, Democracy and Three Famous Trials
More informationTools Andrew Black CS 305 1
Tools Andrew Black CS 305 1 Critical Thinking Everyone thinks, all the time Why Critical Thinking? Much of our thinking is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed, or down-right prejudiced. This costs us
More informationSample. 2.1 Introduction. Outline
Chapter 2: Natural Law Outline 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Some problems of definition 2.3 Classical natural law 2.4 Divine law 2.5 Natural rights 2.6 The revival of natural law 2.7 The advent of legal positivism
More informationChallenges to Traditional Morality
Challenges to Traditional Morality Altruism Behavior that benefits others at some cost to oneself and that is motivated by the desire to benefit others Some Ordinary Assumptions About Morality (1) People
More informationIN DEFENCE OF CLOSURE
IN DEFENCE OF CLOSURE IN DEFENCE OF CLOSURE By RICHARD FELDMAN Closure principles for epistemic justification hold that one is justified in believing the logical consequences, perhaps of a specified sort,
More informationCategorical Imperative by. Kant
Categorical Imperative by Dr. Desh Raj Sirswal Assistant Professor (Philosophy), P.G.Govt. College for Girls, Sector-11, Chandigarh http://drsirswal.webs.com Kant Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (1724 1804)
More informationThomas Hobbes Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes Leviathan Thomas Hobbes s Leviathan was originally published in 1651. The excerpt here is taken from Jonathan Bennett s translation, available at the following url: .
More informationThe Illusion of Limitations in Making Choices. The problem with discussing the idea of freedom is that the concept of it is
Name of winner: Romero, Kristeen Anne Lalic Topic: The Illusion of Limitations in Making Choices The problem with discussing the idea of freedom is that the concept of it is malleable and changes according
More informationLegal positivism represents a view about the nature of law. It states that
Legal Positivism A N I NTRODUCTION Polycarp Ikuenobe Legal positivism represents a view about the nature of law. It states that there is no necessary or conceptual connection between law and morality and
More informationJURISPRUDENCE AND LEGAL THEORY II STUDY NOTES
JURISPRUDENCE AND LEGAL THEORY II STUDY NOTES TOPIC 1 THE PROVINCE OF NATURAL LAW CHAPTER ONE CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Objectives 3.0Main Content 3.1Meaning of Natural Law 3.2Essential Features of
More informationLaw Based on Accepted Authority
William & Mary Law Review Volume 23 Issue 3 Article 6 Law Based on Accepted Authority Michael A. Payne Repository Citation Michael A. Payne, Law Based on Accepted Authority, 23 Wm. & Mary L. Rev. 501 (1982),
More informationA Review on What Is This Thing Called Ethics? by Christopher Bennett * ** 1
310 Book Review Book Review ISSN (Print) 1225-4924, ISSN (Online) 2508-3104 Catholic Theology and Thought, Vol. 79, July 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.21731/ctat.2017.79.310 A Review on What Is This Thing
More informationA CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF SECULARISM AND ITS LEGITIMACY IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC STATE
A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF SECULARISM AND ITS LEGITIMACY IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC STATE Adil Usturali 2015 POLICY BRIEF SERIES OVERVIEW The last few decades witnessed the rise of religion in public
More informationSummary of Kant s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals
Summary of Kant s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Version 1.1 Richard Baron 2 October 2016 1 Contents 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Availability and licence............ 3 2 Definitions of key terms 4 3
More informationThe Role of Love in the Thought of Kant and Kierkegaard
Philosophy of Religion The Role of Love in the Thought of Kant and Kierkegaard Daryl J. Wennemann Fontbonne College dwennema@fontbonne.edu ABSTRACT: Following Ronald Green's suggestion concerning Kierkegaard's
More informationUniversity of Denver. Josef Korbel School of International Studies. Introduction to Political Theory
University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies Introduction to Political Theory Fall 2016 Nader Hashemi INTS 4708 nhashemi@du.edu Time: Thursdays 9 am-12 pm Office Hours: Tues. 5-6 pm
More informationWomen Bishops in the Church of England: A Vote for Tolerance and Inclusion
Women Bishops in the Church of England: A Vote for Tolerance and Inclusion by Colin Podmore 1 Introduction On 14 July 2014 the General Synod of the Church of England gave final approval to legislation
More informationDoctrine of Salvation
Doctrine of Salvation ST505 LESSON 10 of 24 Roger R. Nicole, Ph.D. Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary Corresponding Editor, Christianity Today Let us pray. Before the immense blessing of justification,
More informationCS305 Topic Introduction to Ethics
CS305 Topic Introduction to Ethics Sources: Baase: A Gift of Fire and Quinn: Ethics for the Information Age CS305-Spring 2010 Ethics 1 What is Ethics? A branch of philosophy that studies priciples relating
More informationA number of epistemologists have defended
American Philosophical Quarterly Volume 50, Number 1, January 2013 Doxastic Voluntarism, Epistemic Deontology, and Belief- Contravening Commitments Michael J. Shaffer 1. Introduction A number of epistemologists
More informationIntroduction to Modern Political Theory
Introduction to Modern Political Theory Government 1615 Professor: Jason Frank Spring 2014 307 White Hall MWF 11:15-12:05 5-6759 / jf273@cornell.edu GSH 64 Office Hours: W 2-4 Kevin Duong Will Pennington
More informationSuggested Remarks for. Memorial Day 2013
Suggested Remarks for Memorial Day 2013 (Acknowledgment of introduction, distinguished guests, officers and members of the DAV and Auxiliary, and others who are present.) Across our nation this Memorial
More informationStewardship taught by Barry McWilliams Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church Adult Class Fall 2003
Stewardship 101-2 taught by Barry McWilliams Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church Adult Class Fall 2003 Nature of the Steward The superstar of Creation Genesis 1-3 Man as created in God s Image: Personal (Rational,
More informationGOD AND CAESAR 1, 1, [CAESAR] , 2, [CAESAR]. 1, 3, [CAESAR].
GOD AND CAESAR Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that Thou art true,
More informationBELIEF POLICIES, by Paul Helm. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Pp. xiii and 226. $54.95 (Cloth).
BELIEF POLICIES, by Paul Helm. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Pp. xiii and 226. $54.95 (Cloth). TRENTON MERRICKS, Virginia Commonwealth University Faith and Philosophy 13 (1996): 449-454
More information(Bible_Study_Romans1)
MAIN IDEA: Paul is identified by commitment to his calling, commitment to people, and commitment to the gospel.. Paul describes himself in the first instance as a slave of Christ Jesus. This is a common
More informationAN OUTLINE OF CRITICAL THINKING
AN OUTLINE OF CRITICAL THINKING LEVELS OF INQUIRY 1. Information: correct understanding of basic information. 2. Understanding basic ideas: correct understanding of the basic meaning of key ideas. 3. Probing:
More informationKant. Deontological Ethics
Kant 1 Deontological Ethics An action's moral value is determined by the nature of the action itself and the agent's motive DE contrasts with Utilitarianism which says that the goal or consequences of
More informationDeontological Ethics. Kant. Rules for Kant. Right Action
Deontological Ethics Kant An action's moral value is determined by the nature of the action itself and the agent's motive DE contrasts with Utilitarianism which says that the goal or consequences of an
More informationHumanities 3 V. The Scientific Revolution
Humanities 3 V. The Scientific Revolution Lecture 23 The State of Nature Outline Background to Hobbes Thought Hobbes and the English Civil War The Big Picture: Religion and Politics The Argument of Leviathan
More informationRawlsian Values. Jimmy Rising
Rawlsian Values Jimmy Rising A number of questions can be asked about the validity of John Rawls s arguments in Theory of Justice. In general, they fall into two classes which should not be confused. One
More informationInstrumental reasoning* John Broome
Instrumental reasoning* John Broome For: Rationality, Rules and Structure, edited by Julian Nida-Rümelin and Wolfgang Spohn, Kluwer. * This paper was written while I was a visiting fellow at the Swedish
More informationModern Deontological Theory: Rawlsian Deontology
Modern Deontological Theory: Rawlsian Deontology John Rawls A Theory of Justice Nathan Kellen University of Connecticut February 26th, 2015 Table of Contents Preliminary Notes Preliminaries Two Principles
More information