PHI 3339 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: The Federalist Papers, Establishment Clause, John Locke
17 Feb 2017
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Federalist papers often thought of as a direct reason/framework to constitution, but it"s important to remember that it was written for a specific political purpose. Definitive set of people; government from people, for the people. Most governments at this time are monarchies. No democracy like the one we will create. World historical moment, setting stage for development of democracy around world. Compare to mayflower compact; begins with invocation. All mentions in constitution seem almost accidental. No mention of religion/higher purpose (virtue, heaven) Mentioning god could have been highly objectionable. First document we"ve looked that didn"t rely on a debt to god/heaven. Oaths apply to both state and federal officers. Wilson: doesn"t think oaths is a real problem. Oaths could violate this -- oaths considered religious. God is a witness to oaths - god is watching you - breaking an oath is breaking a promise with. Quakers only had problem swearing before god.
