Lesson 4 What are the purposes and forms of government?
Human beings have a strong tendency to organize themselves into societies and to form governments. In fact, Aristotle argued that human beings and governments are made for each other. He also contended that the good life (in contrast with mere life) is impossible without some form of organized government.
Although most people throughout history have tended to agree with Aristotle that government is necessary, they have not agreed on the purposes that government should serve or the form that it should take. In this lesson, you will explore the variations in purposes and forms of government.
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify and describe the common purposes and forms of government in different cultures and historical periods.
- Compare the announced purposes of your government with those of another government.
- Define corruption and explain its various forms and consequences.
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