On Government

From Laboratorium

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

'...the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.' is described as the 'State of Nature', therefore man goes into a social contract; which the citizens enter into order to exchange some freedoms with protection from the state of nature. This protection is one of the benefits man obtains through entering the social contract. Man can now pursue intellectualism without the worry of danger. Is the price of the freedoms greater than the gain?

The general will and Jean-Jacques Rousseau When people live independently, they are free, but membership to a state has advantages (above). Rousseau introduces the general will, or the will of all. Rousseau introduces an elective aristocracy as the best method of government.

The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

A ruler must appear religious and upright, but not be beyond cruelty and malice.

xxeeii:Valentinel

Looking Back Edward Bellamy