In the state of nature, says Rousseau, "man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" (Book I: I 169). ... "Might does not create right," explains Rousseau (Book I: III 173). ... In Book II, Rousseau will first explain the inalienable status of the sovereign, the body of people that are "the true foundation on which all Societies rest" and then the laws that help to maintain the loyalty of its subjects (Book I: V 179). ... Humbly speaking, in default of natural sanctions, the laws of justice are ineffective among men" (Book II: VI). ... Rousseau, after upholding the State's absolute...

• Word Count: 7115
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In the state of nature, says Rousseau, "man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" (Book I: I 169). ... "Might does not create right," explains Rousseau (Book I: III 173). ... In Book II, Rousseau will first explain the inalienable status of the sovereign, the body of people that are "the true foundation on which all Societies rest" and then the laws that help to maintain the loyalty of its subjects (Book I: V 179). ... Humbly speaking, in default of natural sanctions, the laws of justice are ineffective among men" (Book II: VI). ... Rousseau, after upholding the State's absolute...

• Word Count: 7114
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The fact Machiaveli has taken the time to write this book leads me to believe that Italy was in desperate times. ... This statement as well as others shows that throughout the book, Machiavelli makes a lot of assumptions about what people will do as oppose to what they might do. ... Then again, he wrote hi book in a time where people had less options than what exist today. ... Infact, he finds his opinions so factual that he neglects to establish himself as an authority before proceeding into the book. ... Firstly, it is mandatory to take a look at the political atmosphere in which Machiavelli...

• Word Count: 2654
• Approx Pages: 11

Thomas Hobbes in his book The Leviathan talks about the great Leviathan which is synonymous with that of a common-wealth or state. ... John Locke in his book called The Second Treatise on Civil Government describes the government, or common-wealth as being a compilation of what its people have given up to the government. ... Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his book called The Social Contract and Discourses demonstrates this basic principle very clearly. ...

• Word Count: 2615
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

While some have considered this book to be a bible for tyrants and condemn Machiavelli as a preacher of political immorality, the message that he was clearly trying to present was that the historically held beliefs that noble traits such as honesty and godly virtues that a ruler should possess would eventually lead to his destruction if and when the citizens choose to exploit his weakness. ... Regardless of the reasons the book was written, it is remarkable that so many of the observations and suggestions contained within the publication can be seen five centuries later. ...

• Word Count: 3155
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

His first book (Essay Concerning Human Understanding) concerned arguing with Plato, Descartes and other scholars citing that there are no original ideas or principles. ... Even in his second book he explained further that ideas are derived from two sources: sensation and perception. ... This book was basically about criticising Robert Filmer's 'Patriarcha'. ...

• Word Count: 7056
• Approx Pages: 28
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Introduction EDWARD B. MCLEAN Western man's pursuit of liberty has been constant. Indeed, the concept of liberty is central to Western political thought and history. The following essays, which were the first of the Goodrich Lecture Series at Wabash College, examine the concept of liberty as it has been understood from antiquity through the twentieth century. Since they were delivered, some of the essays have been modified, but the original thrust of the lecture series has been preserved. ...

• Word Count: 2975
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Victors and Vanquished, The Interesting Narrative, and The Social Contract gave their readers a glimpse into what the world was like before it became modern. New resources and different cultures were being discovered by explorers that the Old World had never been aware of before. Slaves were a large part of expanding the global economy. There was no government that was representative of the people established until the Age of Revolution. People demanded that they have a say in who governs them. ...

• Word Count: 2761
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School