Philosophy 1020 Lecture Notes - John Stuart Mill, Absolute Monarchy, Liberal Democracy
Document Summary
English civil war, tensions and battles in 1642, over the king. Came up with new authority individualism (anarchy) Old theory: kings/ queens ruled by divine right. Find intellectual grounding for theories of political organization. Find a way out of the chaos of the civil war. Materialist: rejects the idea of the soul and its survival. Individualist: rejects old idea that humans are essentially social, man is a political animal aristotle. A general inclination of all man kind, for restless desire for power, after power, resulting only in death. Human can"t be context with moderate power, cannot live well without more. All humans start life with same amount of power, equal ability and hope to attain more power. Three principles of quarrels: (start with state of nature) Competition, diffidence (insecure of power), glory (strong reputation). The first makes for gain, the second for safety, the third for reputation. State of nature was not a theory, but he truly believe in it.