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c. 551 – c. 479 BCE
A Chinese philosopher and politician whose ideas were based on traditional Chinese worldviews which valued duty, loyalty, and respect, he believed a good leader embodied these traits.
c. 428 - c. 348 BCE
An Ancient Greek philosopher who believed the conflicting interests of different parts of society could be harmonised with no expense to each other to create a rational and righteous political order.
384 - 322 BCE
A Greek philosopher who believed men to be political by nature. He conceived politics as an organism, not a machine, and the city (polis) itself, as organic which functions as a community or partnership.
1469 – 1527
An Italian Renaissance philosopher who divorced politics from ethics and believed a leader must understand public and private morality as different things, and be willing to act immorally to rule well.
1588 - 1679
An English philosopher whose 'social contract' found man is not political by nature and should cede liberty to a sovereign for safety wherein the sovereigns right of government is absolute
1632 - 1704
A prominent Enlightenment thinker, Locke was a proponent of limited government using a theory of natural rights to argue governments have obligations to, and limited power over, its citizens
1689 - 1755
A French judge and philosopher, Montesquieu found the best form of government was one in which the legislative executive and judicial powers were separate and accountable to prevent despotism
1694 -1778
A French Enlightenment thinker, Voltaire believed in the efficacy of reason. He found social progress could be achieved through reason, and no authority should be immune to challenge by reason
1712 - 1778
A Genevan philosopher who argued for democracy, equality, and liberty. He believed a state can be legitimate only if it is guided by the “general will” of its citizens to uphold a common interest.
1724 -1804
A German Enlightenment thinker, Kant found that every rational being had innate rights to freedom. And had a duty to enter into civil conditions governed by social contracts to protect said freedoms.