Philosophy 1020 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: French Revolution
16 May 2016
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Q: why does hume say that some other foundation of government than the consent of the governed must also be admitted . Setting up the relationship between the people who govern and the people who are governed. Hume is objecting the social contract theory (the legitimacy of our government is based on our consent) Hume is explaining the social contract theorists" views. If rulers claim their subjects as property, the consent of the governed has vanished, for they are born under obligation. On the contrary, we find, every where, princes, who claim their subjects as their property, and assert their independent right of sovereignty, from conquest or succession. Contrary to what social contract theorists believe, people find themselves under obligation of obedience to the government. Not only do the sovereigns see themselves as rulers over people, the people see themselves as being governed by these sovereigns. Ancient republic of athens; a paradigm example of democracy.
