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Comparing Cicero's Views About The Government And The Commonwealth

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Ideas and critiques about the government and the commonwealth have been debated ever since authoritative figures first began to preside over societies, or the common man. Of these ideas, the concept of what the commonwealth is and how it should be best implemented is especially contended. There are a myriad of different varieties of interpretations, as seen in the stark differences in opinion between Cicero’s 54 BC treatise On the Commonwealth and Thomas Hobbes’ 1651 work The Leviathan. The contrasting definitions of the commonwealth, its historical necessity, and the best tactic of its implementation into society of the governed are much debated between these two pieces.
Even the fundamental definition of the commonwealth is a source of contention. In Cicero’s On the Commonwealth, he asserts that the commonwealth is “a constitution of the entire people,” (Source I). He continues to argue that men under said constitution are bound by the repercussions of justice and the …show more content…

Cicero postulates that men are weak while solitary and naturally gravitate towards a society to which they belong. He proclaims, “For the human race is not a race of isolated individuals, wandering and solitary; but it is so constituted that even in the affluence of all things [and without any need of reciprocal assistance, it spontaneously seeks society]” (Source I). In this context, a commonwealth is necessary to unite all men of a group under a singular constitution. However, Hobbes states, “The only way to erect such a common power, as may be able to defend them from the invasion of foreigners, and the injuries of one another, and thereby to secure them in such sort as that by their own industry and by the fruits of the earth they may nourish themselves and live contentedly…” (Source II). This interpretation portrays the commonwealth as more of a security measure, as to protect the governed from themselves or

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In chapter 19 of Leviathan Thomas Hobbes discusses the different kinds of commonwealths and explains why he believes a monarchy is the best form of government. A few of the points he makes about why he believes this are: the monarchs interests are the same as the people, the monarch is more consistent than a democracy, and monarchy is more stable because the monarch can set up arrangements for the succession of power. In my opinion, these points (and the other points he makes) would only work if the people are lucky enough to have the right person as their sovereign. Monarchs in the past haven't always had the same interests as their people, they are just as likely to do things that hurt their people such as the events that lead to the French

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Government, the foundation of any civilization, defines both the life of its citizens as well as a tone of the country. Cicero, a roman politician and philosopher, wrote The Republic and The Laws shortly before the fall of the roman empire, which contained proposals to help fix the crumbling empire and outline justice within a democratic government. The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, unlike cicero's works, were written at the genesis of the United States. They, too, however, outline the basis for a just society, founded on written law, as opposed to its natural existence. Cicero’s The Republic and The Laws outlines many aspects of modern government, many of which the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution meet, and some of which they fall short of!

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Beginning in 1765, one principle the Americans believed was, “No taxation without representation.” The American colonial society rejected the right of the British Parliament to tax them without colonial representatives in the government. It did not matter what the motive of the tax was, it could not be enforced without the agreement of the colonists themselves. This argument about representation was not of huge significance to the English because according to their constitutional theory, members of Parliament did not represent individuals or particular geographical areas. Instead, each member represents the interests of the whole nation and empire.

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The Roman Republic government contributed to the development of the democratic principles because the romans developed and its government eventually dividing into three branches. The Roman Republic had three main groups, patricians, Magistrates/Consuls Censors/praetors. The three main groups were like the democratic principle separation of powers. The Roman Republic had its “Rule of Law”, but the Romans called it the Twelve Tables. The democratic principle Representative government was also in the Roman Republic government, but was differently portrayed.

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However, Hobbes’s also states that "The obligation to the sovereign is understood to last as long and no longer than the power last by which he is able to protect them can be relinquished by no covenant" (Machiavelli 124). This suggests that a sovereign’s power in a natural Commonwealth comes from his ability to protect the people from the “state of nature”. The subjects of a natural Commonwealth do not necessarily need to fear a ruler to believe that he possesses the ability to protect them from their true fear, a return to the “state of nature”. This indicates that while fear of a ruler might be a useful tool for a ruler to use to enforce his authority, it is not absolutely necessary for the preservation of a political

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What would Cicero do?(WWCD) In a situation like this, depending on your morals and the information about the paranormal activity, to share it or not would come down to who you ask. Cicero says it is ethical to tell the truth about EVERY part of your product. If your product is affected by the paranormal activity you MUST tell the seller before they purchase or you are now performing negative advertisement, and that is unethical. Thomas Aquinas believes in caveat emptor, which means buyers beware.

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After the Romans overthrew their rulers, the Etruscans, the Romans established a form of government — a republic — that was copied by countries for centuries. In fact, the United States government is partly based on the Roman Republic. (US History) There were two main classes in Rome, the plebeians, and the patricians, however; the third class was the slaves. The only way to get into a class was to be born into it.

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Locke says that in order for us to get out of the state of nature, it is a two-stage process. First, we must unanimously consent to construct a civil society. Going into a civil society requires unanimous consent because everyone needs to give up some of their rights, such as the right to punish. Nobody can take any person's rights away from them, only the people themselves can give up those rights if they so wish. Once a civil society is formed and everyone has transferred some rights to the whole group, a commonwealth can be formed.

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Common Sense seeks to answer the question: Is the form of colonial government ruling America the most effective option, in that it provides security and protects the people from anarchy and their vices at the least expense? Paine 's thesis is that the English system of government is undesirable as it does more harm than good to the society that it governs, and therefore a true republic should replace the English constitutional monarchy. This conclusion is supported by the points that government is a necessary evil to ensure security, the English constitution is redundant and archaic, and monarchies are destructive human constructs. To begin, Common Sense argues that government is intended to protect society from anarchy and hardship. Nevertheless, the government only fills this role logically as long as the

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Assembly- An event where the qualified citizens met in the market square of the city to vote on issues proposed by the suffetes and senate, nd the election of officials. Citizenship- Only males from the city of Carthage qualified for citizenship. Women, slaves and foreigners did not qualify for citizenship and were not allowed to participate in government.

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I have spent the past 7 years in the United States Air Force. I have grown up in an environment that fosters high integrity professionals. I have learned to be accountable for my actions and to do what is right when no one is looking. I have great pride for what I have accomplish in the Air Force and I strive to be the best at whatever I put my mind to. My interests have taken me to a point where I want to advance my knowledge by attending a university.

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It is also important that there is a kind of reliance that the agreements will be kept. In chapter 17, Hobbes presents a solution for a commonwealth, where people in numbers consent to the single sovereign authority to have complete control over them by repressing some of the freedoms and enforce laws to safeguard order within a state. The Leviathan is described as a single body built up by components of citizens, constructed through agreement to surrender in obedience to this single authority, so as to flee from bringing destruction from one another. However the true liberties as outlined in chapter 21 of the Leviathan are not oppressive and establish the terms in which the authority is absolute only as it instructs its subjects in its proper use. (Carmichael,

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