POG 235 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Individualism, Absolute Monarchy
Document Summary
Similar to hobbes, that in the state of nature, man is free and has liberty. But contra hobbes: the state of nature is not a war of all against all . Protection of property requires superior authority based on consent: It is not every compact that puts an end to the state of naturebut only this one of agreeing together mutually to enter into one community and make one body politics . Recall the levellers: every manought first by his own consent put himself under that government . Anti-leveller fear: where will you end and take away all property: (ireton) Tacit =anyone who travels freely on the highway and breathes the air (key for locke in giving authority to government) Laws must be supreme; no one is above the law. Absolute monarchyis inconsistent with civil society (no one is above the law and therefore submitted to the rule of law)