Historical Philosophers

Niccolò Machiavelli was a:

• philosopher and writer

• famous painter

• political leader

• musician

Thomas Hobbes believed that humans in their natural state were:

• peaceful and cooperative

• selfish and brutish

• intelligent and rational

• spiritual and kind

According to Hobbes, what is necessary to avoid the evils of war?

• A strong central authority

• Democracy

• Anarchy

• Free market economy

Who imagined a set of natural rights that human beings share?

• Montesquieu

• Rousseau

• Locke

What did Locke believe was the purpose of government? Fill in the blank: Locke believed the purpose of government is to end the state of nature and give people certain protections, especially ________ rights.

• natural

• civil

• political

• economic

What system did Montesquieu call the separation of powers?

• A) Checks and balances

• B) Social contract

• C) Natural rights

According to Rousseau, what is the best form of government?

• Monarchy

• Democracy

• Oligarchy

Fill in the blank: Montesquieu admired the government of England which had three parts: a king to enforce laws, Parliament to create laws, and courts to ________ laws.

• interpret

• enforce

• create

• ignore

According to Rousseau, what happens if people disagree about what's best? Fill in the blank: If people disagree about what's best, the government follows ________ rule, or what more than half the people want.

• majority

• minority

• unanimous

• dictatorial