Political Theory Exam 1 (NYU Political
Theory , Professor Dimitri Landa: First Exam)
Questions And Answers.
John Locke - -Knew Hobbes but not well. Leviathan comes out when Locke is 19.
Secretary to Anthony Ashley Cooper, Later Earl of Shaftsbury.
Author of the constitution of Carolinas - made it possible for those of religions not
Christian to live freely in territory.
Whigs (Limit power of the crown) vs Tories. Tories (party of the crown)
The power of the prerogative (should king be constrained by parliament or not?).
King wishes to assert that he doesn't have to seek approval by parliament. Torries
agree.
-Who wrote Patriarcha and what were is political leanings? - -Robert Filmer (Torie)
-Who wrote the rebuttal to Patriarcha? - -John Locke
-What is the gist of Patriarcha - -Filmer's "great position" men are not naturally
free. Filmer articulates what Locke calls The Paternal Theory: Political obligations of
children follow from the fact of being born.
• The argument from reason (Locke says this means parents may kill their kids)
• The argument from fact. Fathers my choose to do kill children to exercise power
• The argument from revelation. God gives authority to Adam... Adam has authority
over children. Everyone is Adam's child. Meaning we are born being a subject of
parents.
The Property Theory: Political obligations are a consequence of preexisting structure
of property ownership inherited by Adam. The idea is that you are attached to
someone or something when born and you need the connection to survive. This
connection creates a relationship of subordination and through this you are not
naturally free.
-Property Theory - -Political obligations are a consequence of preexisting structure
of property ownership inherited by Adam. The idea is that you are attached to
someone or something when born and you need the connection to survive. This
connection creates a relationship of subordination and through this you are not
naturally free.
-What Are locke's main points in Treaties of Government? - -1. Human beings are
naturally equal.
i. Page 332. Line 2.
ii. "Personal Political equality"
2. Human beings are naturally free
i. Page 312
ii. Property is the extension of life and limb
-Locke - Categorical (vs hypothetical) imperative. - -Scriptual argument. We are the
workmanship of an omnipotent maker. We are his creatures therefore we must have
freedom to pursue obligation to protect life, limb and property
, Arguing that whatever society we are born into it can't be foreseen or meant to be
born into servitude of king.
-What are Locke's key consequences of Natural Law? - -3 (4) rights in the state of
Nature:
1. Natural right to freedom
2. The right to inherit property of ancestors
3. Natural executive right to punish
4. Exclusive right to seek compensation.
-For Locke, should the government be involved in soul saving? - -Locke doesn't
believe that the government's goal is to save out souls. That is right of the
individual. HOWEVER, toleration is not acceptable under atheists. He believes that
laws of nature come from God. If you don't believe in God then you have no fear, no
reason to be good. Also... Catholics should be able to practice religion but excluded
from highest offices (they would feel beholding to pope)
-Why are men naturally free for Locke? - -God intended it that way
-Why are men naturally equal for Locke - -( not Hobbes equal, ie able to kill
eachother in sleep, but that we all have personal political equality
• Scriptual Claims
• Catagorical imparatives (Kant)
o Always bind, regardless of context
-Why does Locke believe in a limited social contract? - -• Who will guard the
guardians
• Can' transfer what is not ours
• Sometimes called a two stage social contract
o Stage 1) create a body of people (a state) by unanimous consent.
o Stage 2) hire/elect government by majority rule
-What facets face Locke with his state of nature? - -• Problem of the naturally
wicked
• Passions
• Instrumental reason
-Compare Locke to Hobbes - -• State of Nature is inconvenient and less violent by
Locke (believes people are abliged by moral laws)
• State of nature is a state of war by Hobbes
• Dissolution of government leads to the state of nature (war) to Hobbes
• Locke believes there is a difference between the dissolution of government and
isolation of society
• Locke believes a state of absolute power is the worst
• Hobbes believes absolute power is only viable state
• Hobbes doesn't like rebelling unless it is in act of self preservation
• Locke belives in power to rebel
There is an important moral constraint that governs Locke's thinking that doesn't
exist in Hobbes. Locke's compliance with government is not conditional as in
Theory , Professor Dimitri Landa: First Exam)
Questions And Answers.
John Locke - -Knew Hobbes but not well. Leviathan comes out when Locke is 19.
Secretary to Anthony Ashley Cooper, Later Earl of Shaftsbury.
Author of the constitution of Carolinas - made it possible for those of religions not
Christian to live freely in territory.
Whigs (Limit power of the crown) vs Tories. Tories (party of the crown)
The power of the prerogative (should king be constrained by parliament or not?).
King wishes to assert that he doesn't have to seek approval by parliament. Torries
agree.
-Who wrote Patriarcha and what were is political leanings? - -Robert Filmer (Torie)
-Who wrote the rebuttal to Patriarcha? - -John Locke
-What is the gist of Patriarcha - -Filmer's "great position" men are not naturally
free. Filmer articulates what Locke calls The Paternal Theory: Political obligations of
children follow from the fact of being born.
• The argument from reason (Locke says this means parents may kill their kids)
• The argument from fact. Fathers my choose to do kill children to exercise power
• The argument from revelation. God gives authority to Adam... Adam has authority
over children. Everyone is Adam's child. Meaning we are born being a subject of
parents.
The Property Theory: Political obligations are a consequence of preexisting structure
of property ownership inherited by Adam. The idea is that you are attached to
someone or something when born and you need the connection to survive. This
connection creates a relationship of subordination and through this you are not
naturally free.
-Property Theory - -Political obligations are a consequence of preexisting structure
of property ownership inherited by Adam. The idea is that you are attached to
someone or something when born and you need the connection to survive. This
connection creates a relationship of subordination and through this you are not
naturally free.
-What Are locke's main points in Treaties of Government? - -1. Human beings are
naturally equal.
i. Page 332. Line 2.
ii. "Personal Political equality"
2. Human beings are naturally free
i. Page 312
ii. Property is the extension of life and limb
-Locke - Categorical (vs hypothetical) imperative. - -Scriptual argument. We are the
workmanship of an omnipotent maker. We are his creatures therefore we must have
freedom to pursue obligation to protect life, limb and property
, Arguing that whatever society we are born into it can't be foreseen or meant to be
born into servitude of king.
-What are Locke's key consequences of Natural Law? - -3 (4) rights in the state of
Nature:
1. Natural right to freedom
2. The right to inherit property of ancestors
3. Natural executive right to punish
4. Exclusive right to seek compensation.
-For Locke, should the government be involved in soul saving? - -Locke doesn't
believe that the government's goal is to save out souls. That is right of the
individual. HOWEVER, toleration is not acceptable under atheists. He believes that
laws of nature come from God. If you don't believe in God then you have no fear, no
reason to be good. Also... Catholics should be able to practice religion but excluded
from highest offices (they would feel beholding to pope)
-Why are men naturally free for Locke? - -God intended it that way
-Why are men naturally equal for Locke - -( not Hobbes equal, ie able to kill
eachother in sleep, but that we all have personal political equality
• Scriptual Claims
• Catagorical imparatives (Kant)
o Always bind, regardless of context
-Why does Locke believe in a limited social contract? - -• Who will guard the
guardians
• Can' transfer what is not ours
• Sometimes called a two stage social contract
o Stage 1) create a body of people (a state) by unanimous consent.
o Stage 2) hire/elect government by majority rule
-What facets face Locke with his state of nature? - -• Problem of the naturally
wicked
• Passions
• Instrumental reason
-Compare Locke to Hobbes - -• State of Nature is inconvenient and less violent by
Locke (believes people are abliged by moral laws)
• State of nature is a state of war by Hobbes
• Dissolution of government leads to the state of nature (war) to Hobbes
• Locke believes there is a difference between the dissolution of government and
isolation of society
• Locke believes a state of absolute power is the worst
• Hobbes believes absolute power is only viable state
• Hobbes doesn't like rebelling unless it is in act of self preservation
• Locke belives in power to rebel
There is an important moral constraint that governs Locke's thinking that doesn't
exist in Hobbes. Locke's compliance with government is not conditional as in
