So the HCJ side of the course is moving quiiiiiiiiiiickly, and having been ill in week two, there was some catching up to do. Here I'm going to try and summarise Week Three's learnings in a more concise post than my others, bearing in mind that we've been trying to be more economic with words in our Precision English lectures. Though four lines for an introductory paragraph doesn't bode particularly well. Here we go...
So week three was political philosophy, and there's a few bright thinkers involved. Plato, Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau are the individuals we focused on.
PLATO - Couple of major points, The Crito and The Cave (not the mumford and sons track, though you could link the two). The Cave will come back at the end of the blog, first off:
Crito - a Dialogue written by Plato. It takes place between two people, Socrates (merely a character) and Crito. Socrates is imprisoned and Crito offers to help him escape. Socrates' argument for refusing this generous offer is the philosophical point in question, and an interesting one. Socrates says that by living in the city of Athens, he is bound by its laws, his dwelling there can be seen as him voluntarily entering into a contract with the city to obey its laws. If he were to attempt escape, he would be destroying the entire city, as if one man disobeys the laws then he is setting an example to others, like a domino, it could lead to the crumbling of an entire city, all on the basis of one man breaking one law. Anyone who switched on the news in August saw the result of such an event in the London Riots, many people jumping on the violent, looting bandwagon, for no sensible reason.
This then, was the first occasion on which any philosopher touched on the idea of the Social Contract. This idea was picked up by...
THOMAS HOBBES - Much further down the line, in 1651, he published his 'Leviathan', examining the idea of the Social Contract.
The Leviathan is a biblical creature, a big monstrous thing, originally a sea monster referred to extensively in the book of Job. Hobbes' Leviathan does not refer to this biblical sea monster, but a commonwealth.
Hobbes' view on social contract is shaped by his context, written during the English Civil War, and so his thoughts are influenced by the violence that surrounded him. As such, Hobbes believed that human nature was essentially aggressive, and in the 'state of nature' (a time before any form of social contract, without law or government) the world would regress to a war of all against all. As such, Hobbes' suggested that mankind required a central, ruling figure, to avoid this situation. In the book, the Leviathan sets out a contact between himself and his subjects, trading all power in return for his protection. This book sets out a limited democracy, with the people able to nominate their initial leader, however from there, the succession of power is determined by the sovereign. It strongly supports the concept of a monarchy and is firmly against the separation of powers, Hobbes arguing that the Civil War took place as a result of the division of power between Kings, Lords and Commons. However, there was some limitation to the Leviathan's power, as he stated that if he failed to fulfil his side of the contract then he could be removed, as well as each subject having the fundamental right to self preservation, entitled to resist the monarchy in self defence. Basically, Hobbes believed in a monarchy as government, with the divine right of kings, and desired a submissive public.
LOCKE - Also discussed social contract, but coming from a completely different angle than Hobbes. His thoughts on the matter are contained within his two 'Treatises on Government'.
Locke had a far more optimistic view of human nature than Hobbes, believing that all humans followed natural laws that were intuitive, "interwoven in the constitution of the human mind". Therefore Locke's view of the state of nature was of a peaceful place, in vast contrast to Hobbes'. Despite these natural laws, Locke acknowledged the need for a governing state, as he was aware that disputes could arise over property, and as such a judge like figure was required. Locke believed in the necessity of government, however thought that the people should only be governed consentually, and that laws should be in place to restrict governmental power, not civil liberties. He also argued that taxes could not be levied without public consent, a principle that became a cornerstone of the manifesto used in the American revolution, and his thinking went on to provide a backbone to the US constitution. Overview - Locke believed in the necessity of a government, but in a far more democratic style, and viewed human nature as basically positive.
ROUSSEAU - Some similar views to Locke.
Believed that the state of nature was a utopian paradise, argued that civilisation makes humans unhappy. Saw some sort of fundamental conscience in humans, and thought that the public must be part of the creation of legislature, as they are the ones who must live by the laws. Believed law should not be restrictive as there is a general will and acceptance of what is right amongst uhmans, therefore the general will of the people should become law.
PLATO - The Cave
Plato had a theory named The Republic, or The Cave theory, which examines the way humans think, and the general make up of the populus.
Plato suggested that all people are in a cave, and that our reality is merely shadow puppets on the wall of this cave, it is not in fact reality. The theory states that this 'cave' existence is a poor replica of the real, perfect world, which humans could see if only we could leave the cave. Plato argued that only philosophers could leave the cave and access the perfect world, and it is from here that Plato discovered "the forms". The Forms are essentially three parts which combine to make the human soul. These forms are Reason, Spirit and Desire. Plato suggests that all people have some awareness of the forms, but cannot understand them fully, as demonstrated by the fact that no man can imagine perfection. Which of these 'forms' dominates our personality dictates our understanding of them, and our being.
- Reason - If reason dominates, we can understand the forms and the perfect reality, hence the view that philosophers can access this perfect world.
- Spirit - If spirit dictates, we seek honour and pride, and are aggressive people.
- Desire - If desire dominates, we are distracted by the obsession with material gain.
Plato went on to say that one day the Philosophers, who have accessed the perfect world, will return to the cave and educate those watching shadows.
Next blog will analyse Locke and Hobbes further, compared with Machiavelli.
That one is likely to be even less concise.
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