1.6 — Political Revolution — Readings

Wednesday, August 2, 2020

Required Readings:

• John Locke & his writings in Reader
• Hobbes (1651) - Selections from Leviathan

If You Hadn’t Yet:

• Ch.3 Early Preclassical Economic Thought up through Physiocracy (p.56) in Landreth & Colander
• Ch.1 Pre-Adamite Economics up through Physiocracy (p.24) in Blaug

Recommended Readings:

The following Wikipedia entries can also provide more background on these writers and their famous works:

• Machiavelli (1532), Selections from The Price
• Thomas Hobbes
• John Locke
• English Civil Wars
• Glorious Revolution

Questions to Help Your Reading

• What does Hobbes have to say about an “ultimate good” or “ultimate goal” for humanity?
• Is Hobbes a subjectivist in terms of value and human choice?
• What’s the problem with everyone having equal power and limitations?
• When is it in an individual’s interest to limit themselves?
• What is the origin of the State or Commonwealth?
• How would you consider Hobbes’ analysis in terms of game theory? A prisoners’ dilemma? A stag hunt?
• What is the origin of property, according to Locke?
• Compare and contrast Hobbes’ and Locke’s view of the state of nature.
• What are the three inconveniences of anarchy, according to Locke?
• What is the role of money, according to Locke? What happens if money increases in supply?