Ethics Study Guide
Thomas Hobbes (English – Contractarian)
1. View of the State of Nature
a. Human nature w/o government is :
i. Egoistic ii. Everyone “equal” iii. Equal rights to everything iv. Warlike
v. Psychological Egoism – People are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain vi. Rational vii. Law of Self Preservation + reason contract
2. Psychological / Ethical Egoism
a. Psych – descriptive – People are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain
b. Ethical – prescriptive – People ought to be are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain
3. “Social Contract” between people and Sovereign (Need Gov)
a. People obedient to sovereign, sovereign protects the people and there is order
4. “Free Rider”
a. Doesn’t give up all rights like others. Sort of mooches off of others – Will eventually come to senses
John Locke (English – Epistemology – Political Theorist)
5. View on “innate ideas”
a. No such thing, Knowledge comes from experience | Blank Slate at birth
6. View of the State of Nature
a. Naturally optimistic
b. Kind
c. Peace & Goodwill
d. Mutual Assistance
e. Peaceful
f. Informal Social Relationships
g. Good = Pleasure (like utilitarianism)
h. Evil = Pain
7. Natural rights
a. Life
b. Liberty
c. Property (Mix Labor with Land)
8. Nature of the “social contract” between people and the government (Gov. Helpful)
a. People delegate power to govt. as a majority rule – TACIT CONSENT. If govt. unruly, people rebel.
b. Govt. - Protect and Discover right, doesn’t create them
9. 3 Benefits of Gov.
a. Provides written laws
b. Enforces Laws
c. Interprets Laws
10. 3 Branches of Gov
a. Legislative – Written Laws
b. Executive – Enforcing & Interpreting Law
c. Federative – International Affairs
Jean Jacques Rousseau
11. View of the State of Nature
a. Primitive (Happy, Peaceful, Free, Independent, Instinct, Pity)
b. Nascent Society (Primitive Society plus friends)
12. Problems with Nascent
1. View of the State of Nature
a. Human nature w/o government is :
i. Egoistic ii. Everyone “equal” iii. Equal rights to everything iv. Warlike
v. Psychological Egoism – People are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain vi. Rational vii. Law of Self Preservation + reason contract
2. Psychological / Ethical Egoism
a. Psych – descriptive – People are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain
b. Ethical – prescriptive – People ought to be are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain
3. “Social Contract” between people and Sovereign (Need Gov)
a. People obedient to sovereign, sovereign protects the people and there is order
4. “Free Rider”
a. Doesn’t give up all rights like others. Sort of mooches off of others – Will eventually come to senses
John Locke (English – Epistemology – Political Theorist)
5. View on “innate ideas”
a. No such thing, Knowledge comes from experience | Blank Slate at birth
6. View of the State of Nature
a. Naturally optimistic
b. Kind
c. Peace & Goodwill
d. Mutual Assistance
e. Peaceful
f. Informal Social Relationships
g. Good = Pleasure (like utilitarianism)
h. Evil = Pain
7. Natural rights
a. Life
b. Liberty
c. Property (Mix Labor with Land)
8. Nature of the “social contract” between people and the government (Gov. Helpful)
a. People delegate power to govt. as a majority rule – TACIT CONSENT. If govt. unruly, people rebel.
b. Govt. - Protect and Discover right, doesn’t create them
9. 3 Benefits of Gov.
a. Provides written laws
b. Enforces Laws
c. Interprets Laws
10. 3 Branches of Gov
a. Legislative – Written Laws
b. Executive – Enforcing & Interpreting Law
c. Federative – International Affairs
Jean Jacques Rousseau
11. View of the State of Nature
a. Primitive (Happy, Peaceful, Free, Independent, Instinct, Pity)
b. Nascent Society (Primitive Society plus friends)
12. Problems with Nascent