EUROPE in the 16th & 17th Centuries

Monarchies and Kingdoms

EUROPE in the 16th Century

EUROPE in the 16th Century Conflict and Conquest

EUROPE in the 16th Century Niccol Machiavelli

(1469-1527)

EUROPE in the 16th Century Niccol Machiavelli

(1469-1527) The Prince (1513) The Discourses (1516) The Art of War (1520)

Type of government does not matter only success and glory really matter.

EUROPE in the 16th Century Niccol Machiavelli

(1469-1527) The Discourses (1516)

all men are bad, and ready to display their vicious nature whenever they find occasion for it. Caused by: SELFISHNESS
Shown in self-preservation and security then personal power and glory

EUROPE in the 16th Century Niccol Machiavelli

(1469-1527)

The world: RULERS and RULED Rulers: FOXES or LIONS

LIBERALISM
KEY THINKERS & IDEAS

LIBERALISM The belief that it is the aim of politics to preserve individual rights and to maximize freedom of choice.
Oxford Dictionary of Politics (2003)

Individuals have the freedom to do what they want AS LONG AS they do not harm anyone else.

LIBERALISM

DARK AGES
Impact of the Catholic Church on European thought and on social, economic and political organisation. To some, Catholicism suffocated individual thought and freedom, promoting a universal system of belief and action.

LIBERALISM

DARK AGES
INDEX LIBRORUM PROHIBITORUM 1559 (Index Expurgatorius)

LIBERALISM

END OF THE DARK AGES?

THE REFORMATION THE RENAISSANCE THE ENLIGHTENMENT

LIBERALISM

CHALLENGE TO ORTHODOXY The concept of the INDIVIDUAL

INDIVIDUALISM

LIBERALISM

INDIVIDUALISM

THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1679)

Who was Hobbes?

Born in London in 1588. Educated at Oxford University in England, where he studied classics. Travelled to other European countries several times to meet with emerging scientists. He became interested in why people allowed themselves to be ruled and what would be the best form of government for England. Wrote Leviathan in 1651.

LIBERALISM

INDIVIDUALISM
Man is RATIONAL and desires his own preservation
Led by a perpetuall and restless desire of Power after power to a condition of warre of every man against every man. [War of all against all.]

LIBERALISM

As a consequence:
Life would be solitary, poore, nasty, brutish and short. Referred to as the state of nature society before the existence of government.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

LIBERALISM

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Men have a dilemma (referred to as the Hobbesian dilemma): BE ABSOLUTELY FREE (and suffer the consequences of war of all against all) or MAKE AN AGREEMENT THAT LIMITS OUR FREEDOM (but live in relative security).

What would you choose?

LIBERALISM

Hobbes suggests we make an agreement. A COVENANT A CONTRACT A SOCIAL CONTRACT

LIBERALISM

A SOCIAL CONTRACT Men agree to an all-powerful ruler to have dominion over them; to settle disputes and make laws agreeable to all. Men would not be totally free, but free enough to live a long life!

LIBERALISM A SOCIAL CONTRACT

ABSOLUTE MONARCH [The LEVIATHAN] Creation of a COMMONWEALTH

[Sometimes Commonweal]

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651

Hobbes: agree or disagree?

Why is it in the nature of man to quarrel? What are the consequences of living in a war of every man against every man? Is it true that we live in such a way?

What were the influences on Hobbes?

From 1642-6, then 1648-9, England suffered a prolonged civil war.

What were the influences on Hobbes?

A battle between an ABSOLUTE MONARCH who demanded loyalty as a matter of course, without reason and those who wanted AUTHORITY based on the consent of (some) people.

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR 1625-49

Balancing Dominion and Liberty: the frontispiece of Leviathan

How to solve the problem?

Deductive logic from what he sees! What would be the situation if there were no government, no state if people lived in the state of nature. If we can answer this we will know why people accept being ruled by governments, and the best form of government.

How to solve the problem?

Men should only obey a ruler as long as they promise to protect them from harm; political obedience should not be given unless men get something in return. RULERS EXIST TO PROTECT US, WE ARE NOT HERE TO BE SUBJECTS OF RULERS.

The answers given by Hobbes

A monarch with the power and authority to make decisions. Acceptance of the laws of the sovereign. However, the purpose of these laws is to ensure that people can go about their business in peace, and no more thus maintaining the right balance between dominion and liberty. A wise sovereign will consult those who are being governed to arrive at the laws necessary to keep the peace a representative parliament.

SOME PROBLEMS
WHO RULES? HOW ARE THEY CHOSEN? WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DO A BAD JOB?