QUESTION #2

POL S 302 MIDTERM

Question 2

Burke on the Rights of Man

• ·         Government is a contrivance for human rights
• ·         Burke believes that the Declaration of the Rights of Man can easily be abused and cause tyranny.
• ·         Burke doesn’t believe that universal laws should exist because the political sphere is ever- changing and it wouldn’t be practical to rule based on ideas.
• ·         The only way to preserve the natural rights of man is to end political associations.
• ·         Politics is not just about ideas but also feelings.
• ·         Page 54: We live in a concrete society and it would be useless to use abstract light in a concrete world.
• ·         Argues that hereditary English monarchy is key.

Wollstonecraft on the Rights of Man

• ·         In A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Wollstonecraft argues that genuine freedom comes from equality of the sexes and claims that intellect and reason are superior to emotion or passion.
• ·         She condemns Burke’s ideas.
• ·         The rights of man originates from God
• ·         Her work focuses on sexual equality; there are women who fought in the revolution in France and they should also receive rights
• ·         Hereditary property hinders honors.
• ·         Property in England is more important than liberty
• ·         “Life of a deer more sacred than the life of a man” punishment for stealing is harsh. The government of England is more concerned about property rights than other things.
• ·         The poor serves to protect the rights of the king