1. What was happening in England when Hobbes was born?
2. Where did Hobbes go to study government?
3. What was the topic of Hobbes' book Leviathan?
4. What did Hobbes believe to be humankind's main characteristics?
5. According to Hobbes, why should people not be trusted to make decisions?
6. What evidence did Hobbes use to prove his point that countries are in a battle for
wealth and power?
7. For what purpose did Hobbes think governments were created?
8. Why did Hobbes believe in the rule of a king or queen?
9. Why would democracy not work, according to Hobbes?
10.
For Hobbes, what was the proper role in government for the people?
11.
Where does the leviathan get his or her power?
12. How did Hobbes propose to lessen the possibility that the leviathan might abuse
his or her power?
13.
Describe Locke's family background.
14.
In what ways did John Owen and Rene Descartes influence Locke?
15.
Why did Locke believe people could rationally settle their differences?
16.
Why did Locke go to Holland?
17.
What ability did Locke believe people had?
18.
Did Locke believe people were capable of governing themselves?
Why or why not?
19.
What did Locke think about Divine Right?
20.
According to Locke, what is the purpose of government?
21.
What did Locke think people should do if governments abused people's rights?
22.
What did Locke think of men being controlled against their will?
23.
What did Locke write about the abilities of women?
24.
How do you think Locke's views were received?
25.
Where was Montesquieu born?
26.
How did he acquire the title Baron de Montesquieu?
27.
What was the subject of On the Spirit of the Law?
28.
How did Montesquieu feel about religious intolerance?
29.
What did he think about slavery?
30. Why did Montesquieu believe that women would be valuable members of
government?
31.
How did Montesquieu define the three types of government?
32.
Which type did Montesquieu favor?
33.
Upon what did Montesquieu believe the success of a government depends?
34.
What kind of government did Montesquieu believe was best?
35.
What country provided a good model of government?
36.
Why did Montesquieu favor a separation of powers?
37.
Why was the Bastille a political prison?
38.
Why did Voltaire think the right of freedom speech was so important?
39.
Why did Voltaire go to England?
40.
What elements of government did Voltaire admire in the British system?
41.
What does the term ancient regime mean?
42.
Why did Voltaire disagree with the ancient regime?
43.
What type of monarchy did Voltaire support?
44.
What did Voltaire write to the monarchs of Europe about?
45.
What do you think Voltaire meant by his quote, “to hold a pen is to be at war”?
46.
How did Voltaire use his writing as a weapon?
47.
Why did Voltaire believe free speech and free press were important to society?
48. Why did Voltaire believe that organized religion could have corrupting influences of
human behavior and human nature?
49.
What do Deist’s believe?
50.
What did Voltaire believe about religion and government?
51. What types of policies or laws would he have supported regarding religion and
government?
52.
How did Voltaire hope people would make decisions and choose their leaders?
53.
Why did Voltaire move to Switzerland?
54.
How do you think this influenced his views about the power of the king?
55.
Why did the French commoners praise Voltaire?
56.
What was Rousseau's early family life like?
57.
Why did he leave Geneva?
58.
How was Rousseau educated?
59.
How did Rousseau believe people would act in a state of nature?
60.
According to Rousseau, what corrupts the natural goodness of human beings?
Why?
61. Based on Rousseau's views of human nature, do you think he thought people can
be trusted to govern themselves?
62.
How were decisions made in the Swiss villages where Rousseau grew up?
63.
What did Rousseau believe is the ideal way of making laws for government?
64. Give examples from your life where you have participated in decision making like
that of a direct democracy.
65.
In Rousseau's time, what did most philosophers think about freedom?
66.
How did Rousseau's idea differ from theirs?
67.
What two parts did Rousseau's ideal government consist of?