Hobbes and Locke, both English philosophers, recognized the concept of a "social contract" — that governmental authority stems from the people's consent. However, their perspectives on why individuals seek governance greatly diverged.
Thomas Hobbes articulated his political philosophy in Leviathan in 1651, a period marked by the turmoil of the English Civil War. He perceived humans as inherently distrustful, engaged in competition, and capable of malign behavior towards one another. Establishing a government, in his view, required sacrificing personal freedoms in exchange for protection against what would otherwise devolve into a state of constant conflict among individuals.
Conversely, John Locke released his Two Treatises on Civil Government in 1690, in the aftermath of the relatively peaceful power transition known as the Glorious Revolution in England. Locke posited that individuals are born as tabula rasa—without any prior knowledge or moral inclinations. As they experience life, they acquire knowledge about the optimal existence and thus choose to form governments to enhance societal conditions.
In my classroom discussions, I often explain their differing philosophies through an analogy to playground basketball. Hobbes argues that a referee is essential to prevent the players from descending into fierce arguments and violence, given the competitive nature of individuals. On the other hand, Locke believes that while a referee can improve the game by ensuring fair conflict resolution, it is possible to enjoy a match without one. It's important to note that both philosophers never referenced basketball, a sport invented in 1891 by James Naismith, but this analogy helps illustrate their contrasting ideas.
...There are no options provided, but I’ll take my chance with this.
Department of Education.
Due to the way our history has been sanitized, children are unaware of the truth.
I would like to ensure that children learn our history and be able to say, "Look, America has major issues. We're led by incompetent people, obsessed with oil, and often mocked internationally... but here's how you can improve things."
Among the four achievements, Chandragupta's unification of the Aryan Kingdom with the Maurya Empire stands out as his most significant feat, during which he did promote religious freedom. Nevertheless, he is more recognized for the empire he established. He neither defined the length of a year nor authored the Bhagavad Gita.
Initially, there was Humanism during the Renaissance. The curriculum focused on liberal studies, including grammar, poetry, rhetoric, history, politics, and moral philosophy. There was a belief that engaging with classical works would lead to a virtuous and balanced life. The emphasis was placed on human rather than divine concerns, gathering knowledge from sources rather than adhering to tradition, and much of life was dedicated to the study and practice of classical knowledge, opposing the scholasticism prevalent in medieval education.
The 16th amendment plays a crucial role as it authorizes the federal government of the United States to impose an income tax on every citizen. This taxation enables the government to maintain military forces, construct infrastructure such as roads and bridges, enforce regulations, and fulfill other essential responsibilities.
