Editing Civics (section)

=== Early Modern England ===
==== Hobbes ====
In his treatise ''[[Leviathan (Hobbes book)|Leviathan]]'', English philosopher [[Thomas Hobbes]] heavily criticised the emphasis in contemporary civic education on studying [[Athenian democracy]] and [[Roman republicanism]], saying that it wrongly encouraged monarchical subjects to restrain the actions of their monarchs.<ref>Thomas Hobbes. [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm ''Leviathan''], Part II, Chapter 21. And as Aristotle; so Cicero, and other Writers have grounded their Civill doctrine, on the opinions of the Romans, who were taught to hate Monarchy, at first, by them that having deposed their Soveraign, shared amongst them the Soveraignty of Rome; and afterwards by their Successors. And by reading of these Greek, and Latine Authors, men from their childhood have gotten a habit (under a false shew of Liberty,) of favouring tumults, and of licentious controlling the actions of their Soveraigns; and again of controlling those controllers, with the effusion of so much blood; as I think I may truly say, there was never any thing so deerly bought, as these Western parts have bought the learning of the Greek and Latine tongues.</ref> He thought that those citizens who imbibed the value of democracy from classic works were likely to oppose monarchy in the manner [[rabid]] dogs avoid water.<ref>Thomas Hobbes. [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm ''Leviathan''], Part II, Chapter 29. In summe, I cannot imagine, how anything can be more prejudiciall to a Monarchy, than the allowing of such books to be publikely read, without present applying such correctives of discreet Masters, as are fit to take away their Venime; Which Venime I will not doubt to compare to the biting of a mad Dogge, which is a disease the Physicians call Hydrophobia, or Fear Of Water. For as he that is so bitten, has a continuall torment of thirst, and yet abhorreth water; and is in such an estate, as if the poyson endeavoured to convert him into a Dogge: So when a Monarchy is once bitten to the quick, by those Democraticall writers, that continually snarle at that estate; it wanteth nothing more than a strong Monarch, which neverthelesse out of a certain Tyrannophobia, or feare of being strongly governed, when they have him, they abhorre.</ref> Hobbes was deeply uncomfortable with Aristotelian civic education, which he said advised popular governance instead of monarchical rule.<ref>Thomas Hobbes. [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm ''Leviathan''], Part IV, Chapter 47. From Aristotles Civill Philosophy, they have learned, to call all manner of Common-wealths but the Popular, (such as was at that time the state of Athens,) Tyranny. All Kings they called Tyrants; and the Aristocracy of the thirty Governours set up there by the Lacedemonians that subdued them, the thirty Tyrants: As also to call the condition of the people under the Democracy, Liberty.</ref>

==== Bacon ====
English philosopher [[Francis Bacon]] was aware of the relevance of civic education to what he termed 'civil merit'.<ref>[[Francis Bacon]]. [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5500/5500-h/5500-h.htm ''The Advancement of Learning''], Book I, Section VII, Paragraph 10. Neither hath learning an influence and operation only upon civil merit and moral virtue, and the arts or temperature of peace and peaceable government; but likewise it hath no less power and efficacy in enablement towards martial and military virtue and prowess, as may be notably represented in the examples of Alexander the Great and Cæsar the Dictator (mentioned before, but now in fit place to be resumed), of whose virtues and acts in war there needs no note or recital, having been the wonders of time in that kind; but of their affections towards learning and perfections in learning it is pertinent to say somewhat. [[Project Gutenberg]].</ref> However, in his essay ''[[The Advancement of Learning]]'', Bacon also argues that civic education should be preceded by religious and moral education, so that those who judge policy will not be under the influence of [[moral relativism]].<ref>[[Francis Bacon]]. [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5500/5500-h/5500-h.htm ''The Advancement of Learning''], Book II, Section XXII, Paragraph 13. But is it not true also, that much less young men are fit auditors of matters of policy, till they have been thoroughly seasoned in religion and morality; lest their judgments be corrupted, and made apt to think that there are no true differences of things[?] [[Project Gutenberg]].</ref>