Nov 20: The justification of political authority

1
Political Philosophy the study of the nature and
justification of political institutions

• Nov 20 The justification of political authority
• Natural Law (Pufendorf), Social Contract
  (Hobbes), Natural Rights (Locke)
• Nov 27 The role of government
• Liberalism (Rawls), Libertarianism (Nozick),
  Communitarianism (Sandel)
• Nov 29 Individual Liberty and the Limits of
  Governmental Interference Mill, Feinberg

2
Natural LawSamuel Pufendorf
(1632-94)

• Human beings are naturally sociable and are
  obligated through God-given laws of nature to do
  what is necessary to survive
• We form and must respect civil governments as
  means to achieve our natural (and rational) ends

3
Social Contract TheoryThomas Hobbes

• Fear of others in the state of nature
  (apart from society) prompts people
  to enter into a social contract
• Governmental authority is based on the choice of
  individuals to give up their rights and keep
  their promise to abide by the social contract in
  order to achieve peace

(1588-1679)
4
Natural RightsJohn Locke
(1632-1704)

• We have God-given rights to our life, liberty,
  and property (gained through labor)
• We establish governments to clarify and protect
  our freedom and natural rights (especially the
  ownership of property)
• State authority is based on the explicit or tacit
  consent of the majority of a people