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1) Conflicting Political Values; freedom, equality, and order- order is establishing the rule of law to preserve life and to preserve property. Hobbes said preserving life was the most important function of government in his book, Leviathan, without it we would live in a “state of nature” meaning we would kill and steal like animals. Established order came from using people’s fear of civil disorder to justify taking power though monarchies, aristocracies, and political parties. Equality has not always been a major objective of government, it gained prominence in the 20th century after industrialization and urbanization. This new purpose has by far been the most controversial. (example: Dallas making gays be part of the police force, social equality vs. values of personal freedom) Freedom can be used in two major senses: freedom of and freedom from. Freedom of is the absence of constraints on behavior; it means freedom to do something. Making freedom synonymous with Liberty. Freedom from is the message symbolized the fight against exploitation and oppression. Political Equality is each citizens have on and only one vote. Some argue that Social Equality (equality in wealth, education, and status) is necessary for true political equality. Equality of opportunity means that each person has an equal chance in life to succeed. Equality of outcome is a concept which means that some think that the government should distribute wealth and power forcefully to make society equal. In a democracy policy hinges on how much citizens value freedom and how much they value order. 2) Objectives and purposes of government- The purpose of government is maintaining order, providing public goals, and promoting equality. In pursuing these objectives every government infringes on individual freedom. Each government sets the degree of that infringement of freedom. So that means that the first dilemma (original dilemma) is freedom vs. order. And the second, modern dilemma is freedom vs. equality. 3) Hobbes, social contract, Leviathan- Social contract, agreement or covenant by which men are said to have abandoned the state of nature to form the society in which they now live. The theory of such a contract, first formulated by the English philosophers Thomas Hobbes (in the Leviathan, 1651) 4) Original and Modern dilemma of Government- Original dilemma of Government- how much freedom for order (Anarchy vs. Totalitarianism). Modern dilemma is how much freedom is given up to give equality a boost. Also refer to number 2 5) Locke- 2nd treatise on government (his view on the purpose of government)- ) John Locke, assumes that men at first lived in a state of anarchy in which there was no society, no government, and no organized coercion of the individual by the group. Hobbes maintained that by the social contract men had surrendered their natural liberties in order to enjoy the order and safety of the organized state.
Approximate Word count = 1834
Approximate Pages = 7.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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