POLS1101 Study Guide - Final Guide: Putney Debates, Social Contract, Limited Government
3 Nov 2018
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Document Summary
Magna carta (1215) foundational document establish limits monarchial. However the people = males owned property and were not slaves therefore only ~10% of the population. Most government offices chosen by lottery short terms (~ 1 yr) No contemporary democracy retains all features of the classical version. Popular sovereignty power (incl. trial by jury, protection arbitrary imprisonment habeas corpus) should be representative. Social contract: imagined agreement between men - determine best form of government. "state of nature" = war of all against all, life = nasty, brutish and short. In order control: men rationally give up authority single sovereign has complete power - in own interest. Even if sovereign cruel and malevolent, men cannot complain as 1) still better than state of nature and 2) they are the. Marsilis of padua ultimate sovereignty with people government. "state of nature" = abundant resources + human reasonableness. Government necessary protect "life, liberty and property" against accumulation.
