The Philosophy of Democracy

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The Philosophy of Democracy

• Mr. Greens American Government

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Outline of the Lecture

• Republic or Democracy?
• Classical Liberalism
• John Locke and The Second Treatise on Government
• Thomas Jefferson and The Declaration of
  Independence
  
• James Madison (and others) and The Constitutional
  Convention
  
• James Madison) and The Federalist Papers
• The Constitution of the United States
• The Bill of Rights
• The First 10 Amendments
• Amendments 11 through 27

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Model 1, p. 2
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Republic or Democracy?

• Which Government Is Best
• Idealism Government By Virtue
• Platonic Virtue
• Three Kinds of Souls
• Those Motivated by Appetite
• Those Motivated by Physical Exertion
• Those Motivated by Reason
• Rule by the Philosopher King

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Republic or Democracy?

• Which Government Is Best
• Idealism Government By Virtue
• Aristotelian Virtue

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Aristotle
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Republic or Democracy?

• Which Government Is Best
• Idealism Government By Virtue
• Aristotelian Virtue
• Virtue Though Character
• Aristotles Classification of Constitutions

Republican Solution A Mixed Constitution
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Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Allegory of Good Government,
at the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, Italy, 1338-40
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Good Government Right Side Translation
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Good Government Left Side Translation
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painting
Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Allegory of Bad Government,
at the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, Italy, 1338-40
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Bad Government Translation
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Republic or Democracy?

• Which Government Is Best
• Realism Government By Interests
• Machiavellian Virtú
• How Does Politics Really Work?
• How Do Politicians Really Behave?

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Machiavelli, Chapter 15
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Machiavelli, Chapter 15
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Republic or Democracy?

• Which Government Is Best
• The Baptist
• Virtue
• The Bootlegger
• Interest
• Or Both

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Classical Liberalism
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The Second Treatise on Government, 1689
John Locke
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Lockes Theory

• Divine Right of Kings?
• The State of Nature
• Absolute Freedom and Equality
• Natural Rights Life, Liberty, and Property
• Social Contract
• Limited Government
• Legislative
• Executive
• Right of Revolution

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The Country Whigs

• Liberty is Natural -- Not be a Gift of the
  State
  
• English Liberty Is Protected By Dividing Power
  Three Ways
  
• Monarch
• Parliament
• Lords
• Commons
• Aristotles Mixed Constitution
• Monarchy
• Aristocracy
• Democracy

5/12/2009
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The Country Whigs

• Liberty Can Be Destroyed By Corruption
• As when the King buys off Parliament using
  Places And Pensions
  
• By establishing standing armies
• By creating national debts
• By raising excises
• Liberty Requires Rule By The Virtuous If
  Corruption and Tyranny Are To Be Avoided
  
• Virtue Is In the Country, Found Outside The
  Centers Of Power

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Jefferson
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Declaration
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Classical Liberalism

• American Equality
• English Liberty
• Christian Virtue

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American Equality
All Men Are Created Equal Eliminate Status and
Privilege That Is Not Based On Merit
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Booted And Spurred
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American Equality
All Men Are Created Equal Eliminate Status and
Privilege That Is Not Based On Merit
Egalitarianism Eliminate All Unreasonable Status
Creating Distinctions
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English Liberty

• Rule of Law
• Law must be reasonable
• Based on logical and consistent principles rather
  than inviolable and unchallengeable traditions.
  
• Law must be equal
• No exceptions and exemptions for elites
• No singling out minorities for disparate
  treatment or unique penalties
  
• Law must be predictable
• No arbitrary changes in societies rules or their
  enforcement
  
• ex post facto laws

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English Liberty
Political Liberty Written Constitution Contract
between people and rulers Right of Revolution Di
vided Power No single sovereign power Bill of Ri
ghts Individual liberties protected from Governme
nt Rotation of Office No hereditary or continuou
s rule
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English Liberty
Economic Liberty Government Does Defines and Pro
tects Private Property Enforces Contracts Stable
Money System Government Does Not Regulate Price
s and Wages Interfere With Trade
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Christian Virtue
Republics Require Virtuous Citizens to Succeed
Virtuous Citizens Put Country Ahead of Self
Men Are Naturally Corrupt, Degenerate, and
Depraved Sin Has Affected All Parts of Man the H
eart, the Emotions, the Will, the Mind, and the
Body. Left to Themselves, Men Will Seek Pleasure
and Use Violence Without Regard to the Safety or
Well Being of Others. Only Religion Can Tame and
Control (Civilize) Naturally Depraved Mankind
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Booted And Spurred
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The End