Renaissance Thinkers Audio Script
Hobbes: Fera, Locke: Ian, Montesquieu and Host: Morford, Rousseau: Lockard
Host: Today on Hardball, Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. Thomas Hobbes the man who says people are driven by selfishness and greed. John Locke says that people have a natural right to life, liberty and property. Baron de Montesquieu ideas center around 3 branches of government which can perform checks and balances on each other. Finally, Jean-Jacques Rousseau argues that people are basically good but become corrupted by society. Let’s get down to business, Hobbes, what freedom are people giving up to avoid chaos?
Hobbes: Since people are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish, without the laws of government people would be in a complete state of anarchy. To avoid this people enter into a social contract. In this contract they give up the state of nature in order for an organized society.
Rousseau: Nay! People are basically good but become corrupted by this “government” society. Why not let people make the laws so they can fit to their needs.
Hobbes: If people are good, then why would we need laws in the first place? Why would we need a government to rule the people if they are all good at heart?
Rousseau: Hobbes your ideas are blasphemy. It’s the government that corrupts the people.
Host: Silence infidels. Everyone knows that your respective ideas contradict each other and that we can argue about this for hours.
Locke: If the government does corrupt people then it must be changed.
Montesquieu: In order to prevent government corruption in the first place it must be divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. With my revolutionary theory, the branches can perform checks and balances on each other to prevent a power surge.
Locke: But this three branch government must protect the natural rights of the citizens.
Hobbes: Nay! The government must have full control over the people to prevent rebellion and anarchy.
Rousseau: Nay! The government must be set up by the people so that it maintains the will and support of the people.
Host: Enough, I’ve warned ye once before. Don’t make me do this again or you’re off me show. Let’s discuss your accomplishments through literature. Hobbes explain.
Hobbes: In the Leviathan published in 1651, I wrote that if people were not ruled by a strong government, life solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
Locke: In my writing entitled Two Treatises of Government I stated the radical idea that the government has an obligation to its citizens.
Montesquieu: The Spirit of the Laws was based on my studies of the governments of Europe and read about medieval Europe, Chinese, and Native American cultures.
Rousseau: I set forth my ideas of government and society in The Social Contract in which the chains of society are the ones that control the way people behave.
Hobbes: Nay! That book is hogwash.
Host: Hobbes I warned that I had the power to boot you off my show. Now I demonstrate that power. Good day sir.
Rousseau: Laughter. That coward’s idea on total government control regulating human behavior was claptrap.
Montesquieu: I have read Hobbes’ book, Leviathan, and I agree that it was total hooey.
Locke: I also disagree with Hobbes theory on totalitarianism government. With such oppression would violate natural rights.
Host: Now were talking like the sophisticated folk.
Rousseau: Some natural rights must be sacrificed in order to maintain the general will of the people and the common good.
Locke: Nay! If a government violates natural rights it should be replaced or refurbished (yells)!
Rousseau: Nay! Your ideas of natural rights are outdated and must be replaced or refurbished.
Host: Laughter. My second frag. Good day Jean-Jacques.
Locke: I admire your work Montesquieu, perhaps if they were fused together in the future.
Montesquieu: That would make the ideal form of government, for the people by the people and having the ability to change to meet the standards of the present day.
Host: Yes, unfortunately we are out of time and must sign off for the day. (Softer as if the show was ending and mic was still on) Wanna get an ale?
Locke: Yeah, I could use a cold one.
Montesquieu: I desire something more royal such as wine.
Locke: (throws punch)