POLI 2342 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Algernon Sidney
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Algernon Sidney!
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wrote an apology on the eve of his execution!•
it is in the vein of English Liberalism!◦
given the fate of Sidney, Locke didn't put his name on the Second Treatise!•
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alleged to be forming a plot that sought to have King Charles II killed!•
convinced of treason !◦
wrote this apology, it is very much like John Locke's!•
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like first treatise -> Sidney attacked Filmer, who defended absolute monarchy!•
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Filmer's defense -> Sidney says that he wonders how anyone could support monarchy!•
powers of the monarchy, claims that support for this has eroded!◦
recall James I's claim of power!‣
expressing gratitude for his patronage!◦
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in 1683 -> support for the absolute monarchy has eroded !•
it is no longer seen as a source of stability !◦
it is now a means of enslaving the entire population !◦
humans need government but has to be a basis of consent!•
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consent creates the monarchy, aristocracy, democracy -> this is an Aristotelian idea!•
how much liberty people surrender determines the boundaries of government!•
each society has to make this decision collectively!◦
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people have to give up a certain amount!•
government is a hard job and for the benefit of the whole rather than the ruler!◦
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selfish rule corrupts people -> the highest places are always the most slippery!•
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this is a document that people are going to read after his death, condemning the monarch!•
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modern idea -> liberty produces virtue, order, stability, not tyranny!•
absolute rulers claim they are the source, but only free subjects are peaceful!◦
subjects of tyrants are slaves, try to evade the law!‣
people willingly accept the laws!◦
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all those people capable of ruling should be able to!•
nature holds the answers to government!•
to understand politics, we need to understand nature!◦
this is an ancient idea!‣
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Locke says that we are born free!•
then, we accept certain restraints!◦
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