Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: William Godwin, Natural Abundance, Rationality
9 Aug 2016
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Lecture 3 reading- an introduction to political philosophy: johnathon wolff. What would life be like in a natural state (world without government intervention) Live in a world of political institutions that distribute and administer political power (courts, central government) Our lives are structured and controlled by the decisions of others: people placed in responsibility roles- command us to act specific way-punish for incompliance. What would things be like with the state: state of nature: no state exists and no one possesses political power. Civil society: a society governed by a formal state. Thomas hobbes: worried by english civil war thought country was falling into a state of nature. Leviathan: shows how unpleasant world would be to persuade readers of the advantages of the government. Nothing could be worse than life without the protection of the state. Argued strong government is essential to ensure that we do not lapse into a state of nature.
