The Philosophers That Shaped Today’s Free World
The United States as we know it today would not exist if it was not for the influence of the great philosophers during the age of enlightenment. The age of enlightenment was focused on science and reason. The thinkers of this era wanted to take a step back from al theories and superstitions previously believed, and question their legitimacy. During this age, a whole group of philosophers, scientists, and writers developed new ways of thinking, and new ways to study how the world works. One of the most influential concepts that came out of this was the political theories of the state of nature, social contract, and the theories that helped shape the American democracy of today. James Madison was greatly influenced by John Locke and his theories of freedom of speech, and the idea that the people can overthrow a government if it is not working to their liking. In the preamble of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson takes these political theories, and put them into practice. There are some obvious similarities between what James Madison wrote, and the philosophers of the enlightenment era. All of the important documents in American history have some kind of influence from one or all of these philosophers.
The Social Contract theory was first mentioned by Thomas Hobbes in 1651. This is the foundation for any form of government, including the democracy we know today. He explained that citizens give up certain freedoms in order to have protection and order enforced by a government. For example, regular citizens are not allowed to punish others for crimes they think were committed. Those decisions are left up to a judge and jury in a courtroom. Additionally, he believed that the state of nature for humans were asocial and apolitical. He also believed that the government should have total control, and not require approval of the people. He explains that if the powers of a government are split up, then there could arguments leading to a collapse, which would bring the people back to the state of nature. What's more, Hobbes believed that if these powers were abused in anyway, people should just accept it because they are being protected.
Even though Thomas Hobbes strongly encouraged a totalitarian form of government, he also believed that the subjects have a right to disobey laws when they feel it is necessary. This was also an inspiration for the declaration of independence when it was written, “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,” (Declaration of Independence). Even though Thomas Hobbes rejected democracy, his social contract theory has stuck, and is the foundation for many political ideas.
Robert Filmer’s represented the opposite viewpoint of how a government should work. He argued that this kind of government would cause more fighting, and eventually lead to the downfall of the society. He called democracy “the will of the mob.” Filmer believed that the government was run like a family, and thought of the king much like the father. Filmer explained that fathers are the head of the family. Fathers are treated with respect, and no one questions his authority. Everybody knows he is the head the house. Consequently, he argued that the citizens of a state should show similar respect for their king even if this leads to a
Filmer also believed in the divine right of kings. He explained that God created Adam to rule over all the other creatures of the earth. When Noah inherited his role to rain, he was then the ultimate ruler, and no one could say otherwise. This royal lineage is the same lineage all the kings belong to, and so are ordained by God to rule over their countries.
John Locke had an immense impact on the formation of the United States Government. He is widely known for his profound impact on the philosophies in the subject of politics, and some say the start of political liberalism. He expanded on Hobbes’s theory of social contract, but did not agree with having a totalitarian government. He also differed with Hobbes’s theories in that he encouraged separation of government powers. Locke Believed that humans were naturally born free, and that we are born with innate tolerance and reason. Jefferson used his theory by saying all humans have unalienable of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The founding fathers of the United States made those philosophers ideas into a reality.
John Locke’s essay on civil government is the most important contribution to British parliament. In his book The Two Treatises of Government,” he begins by saying that monarchy will bring the end of civilization. He points out that Filmer’s ideas of the king being like the father is absurd. He argues that there is a joint power between the parents, and these parents do not have absolute power over the child. Further more; since Locke believes everybody is born free, he argues Filmer’s ideas of men being slaves to Divine rights of the King.
Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote his theories on the basis of assuming everyone was inherently good. With out the pressures of society, he thought that everybody would have simpler and similar survival methods to the apes. In other words, a person’s sense of morality would be the same as an animal. The one thing that sets humans apart from the rest of the animal species is our curiosity. We want to know how the world works and why we are here. Rousseau believed that because of all we’ve learned in the arts and sciences, we have become more evil than we would naturally be. He argued that these concepts have made human kind vain and lazy. He believed all law-making should happen through the people, not the government. He also believed that citizens should not let their egos get in the way of what is best for the state. Even though the citizens should be free, they should be able to set aside some of them for the general will. The laws that govern the people help to shape their spirit.
David Hume was considered a political conservative. He thought the rule of law, and the moderation of politics. He did not like enthusiasm and factionalism. He thought these concepts threatened the fragile and growing political ideas and social strength of a country. He also believed that society works better when the citizens made the decisions for themselves, and he was very lenient about the form of government that enforced these laws. He used to talk people into protesting what the government wanted, and wanted to stay neutral when it came to Britain’s political parties.
Hume wanted to balance liberty with strong authority. He liked the idea of freedom of the press, and also liked the theory of democracy when it was used carefully. James Madison was inspired by Hume’s ideas, and worked them into his own writing. Hume wrote a book titled “idea of a perfect commonwealth.” In it he described what he thought was the best kind of government, and separation of powers. In the U.S. there is a system much like Hume’s theories called “checks and balances.” Our government is split into three sections that can not over through either of the others.
