John Locke’s political philosophy claimed that men are by nature free and equal. This went against claims that supported that God had made all people naturally subject to a monarch. He argued that all people have certain rights. These rights include the right to life, liberty, and property, which have a foundation separate of the laws of society. His reasoning behind this was that the government exists with the consent of the people so it should protect the people’s rights and promote the public good. If the government fails to do so then it should be replaced with new governments. In addition, he defends the principle of majority rules and separation of powers. In conclusion, Locke is among one of the most influential political philosophers. …show more content…
I think the government is responsible for promoting the public good and protecting people’s rights. In the Two Treaties of Government, Locke argues that people are free and equal and have rights such as life, liberty, and property. These rights stated by Locke are important because they allow people to not only live life but also enjoy it. I also believe the government should not be based on what one person believes but what the majority of people think. This is supported by Locke in the Letter Concerning Toleration. This document discusses that the ruler should not be able to tell the people what religion should be worshipped but the people should have free will. John Locke also discusses how people are born innocent which I also believe to be true. I support many of John Locke’s beliefs because without having a say in the government and having rights and we would be much like slaves and would not be able to enjoy
Their thoughts on human nature tell us that we do need government for our own well-being and so that we have stability. Locke's philosophical ideas are better represented in Robinson Crusoe. In the novel, Defoe expresses the
He believes that the legislative branch is the most important part of the English government. “Their power, in the utmost bounds of it, is limited to the public good of society (pg. 746). Where instead of the law makers only making laws to benefit themselves, they should do what is best for the commonwealth. Locke continues to stay that the legislative’s power should come from the commonwealth. “It is true, governments cannot be supported without great charge, and it is fit every one who enjoys his share of the protection, should pay out of his estate his proportion for the maintenance of it”(pg. 749). Locke states that if someone partakes in the protection and services of the government, they should pay takes in order to help the government. This makes sense, if someone reeks the benefits that the government offers them, than we should contribute to the government. Even if we were or weren’t born in this country, we are old enough to make our decisions so if we do not approve what our government is doing we have one of three options. Act and make changes, leave, or deal with
He believed the people were given divine rights to life, liberty and property. These right were ordained in the garden by God and passed down from Adam to all people. Locke believed the people did need a government, just like Hobbs, but government needed to be limited. The only role for government was to ensure the natural rights of the people. He also believed that the people had the right to revolt if the government failed to support the natural rights of the people. His beliefs in the role of government were influence by the Glorious revolution in 1688-1689 . This was a bloodless confrontation resulted in the oursing of James II and the establishment of Willam III and Mary II. Locke saw how the rules of government played out in a peacable
When citizens are empowered to participate in the governance of their country, they are more invested in its success and more likely to contribute to its growth and development. This creates a cycle of collective action that can lead to a stronger, more resilient society. He believed that “humans are rational, intelligent, and reasonable,” showing that citizens should be wise and independent enough to be involved with the government. Locke believed that government should exist to protect the natural rights of citizens, including the right to life, liberty, and property. He argued that citizens had a right to overthrow a government that failed to protect these rights.
While reading the “The Second Treatise of Government,” you can notice and see that John Locke has a strong standing for civil rights as well as helping with the development of the Constitution of the United States. He states that the “consent of the governed,” is basically saying that communities are not put together by the divine right or ruled by. Paternal, familial, and political are types of powers that John Locke mentions that have all have unlike characteristics. He inspired others to believe in and want equal rights and democracy. John Locke talks about the state of nature, which basically states that no one has the power to be ruler of someone, as well as they are able to do what they want in a freely matter. In other words people are born just like anyone else that is born, and should have equally rights to property, health, and liberty, and that no one should have the power over anyone. Everyone should be able to live and enjoy his or her own freedom and wellbeing. However, the state of nature is not a guarantee to have natural laws, which could help with the protecting of one’s property. According to him having your own personal freedom was the true meaning of state of nature. John Locke thought that people were following his faith in human rationality through the declaration of Locke. John Locke states that if the government takes away from others for them to empower them then the people have right and opportunity to go against
John Locke argued for individual freedom. If we had individual freedom we would have a strong government. Locke said it was necessary to a good government. Locke wrote “People are naturally free and have the right to maintain their freedom.”(Document A) To keep this freedom people needed to construct a government that has both an executive and a legislature. To Locke a government created by the people was the best government in his futuristic sense of
Locke’s argument suggests that government must respect the rights of individuals. Therefore, he argues that the public has all the right to reelect a leader if he is not serving his community properly as he should. People have the right to replace the government if they are unhappy and they can take right actions by doing what is best for them. He observed that people have both, a privilege and an obligation to protect their own lives. To support his idea, he claims that men are independent by nature and equal subject to a monarch.
John Locke laid out a series of principles in his Two Treatises on Government, stating that men are naturally free and equal and able to
Both John Locke and Thomas Jefferson believe that people have certain natural rights and that it is the government’s job to protect these rights. Their documents were both written for revolutions, although they were two very different revolutions. Ultimately, a revolution in Europe influenced Locke to write the Second Treatise on Government. The Second Treatise on Government was important because it influenced the way many later philosophers would view government. One philosopher influenced by Locke was Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence used the same philosophy as Locke’s Second Treatise on Government, but it also held great significance in that it was the first time a group of colonies had successfully separated from a world power like Great Britain.
John Locke was been one of Americas most significant figures who influence how the country’s political system works today. Locke redefined the whole nature of the government, his views were similar to Thomas Hobbes’ ideas (Hobbes concluded that people are incapable of ruling themselves because it’s in our nature to self-centered not need to a strong leader to control us), however Locke was more optimistic about people’s ability to reason to help avoid tyranny. In Locke’s Second Treatise of Government he identified the basis to a reasonable government. According to Locke a ruler should gain their authority by the people who will be governed because the duty of the government is to protect the natural rights its people (life, liberty, and property), and said that if the government failed to protect these rights, the people should have the right to overthrow its government. These ideas greatly influence Thomas Jefferson when writing the Declaration of Independence. Federalism has also greatly impacted the political system in the United States because it’s the relationship between the authority and people. There are many ways the government can be divided. For example, a cooperative federalism is when the federal government governs unlimitedly and forces lower governments to supervise and enforce national
Constitution. John Locke’s belief of “life, liberty, and property” was the most influence on the American. Beside the Magna Carta, Petition of Rights, and English Bill of Rights, Locke also has a great influence of limit government. Locke’s Social Contract theory was to protect the basic rights of the people, it for the right of citizens to revolt against their king. Social contract is a convention between men that aims to discard the state of nature. According to Locke, the State of Nature is a state of perfect and complete liberty to behavior one's life as one best perceives fit, and free from the interfering of others. Also from Locke’s view of State of Nature, he believes it was given by
In his Second Treatise on Government Locke focus’ on liberalism & capitalism, defending the claim that men are by nature free and equal against the idea that God had made all people subject to a king. He argued that people have ‘natural rights’, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, that hold the foundation for the major laws of a society. He says, “…we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit.” (2nd Treatise, Chapter 2, sec 4). John Locke used this claim, that all men were naturally free and equal, for understanding the idea of a government as a result of a social contract. This is where people in the state of nature transfer some of their rights to the government in order to better guarantee the steady and comfortable enjoyment of their lives, liberty, and property.
Locke’s thought on having a king, laws, and a civil society under a social contract was so all men can enjoy and protect their rights. Where all men obtain the right to life, all humans have the right to live and life shouldn't be taken away from another human being. The right to liberty, protecting an individual's freedom and unreasonable detention. The right to property, a citizen in which Locke thought a human's labour was his own, anything created or made should remain that individuals as well and the right to rebel against unjust rulers and laws.
Locke is best known for his philosophical ideals regarding the rights of humankind- all individuals have the right to life, liberty, and property.
Locke believed that people are willing to unite under a form of government to preserve their lives, liberty, and estate. Since natural law is already good, government not only preserves natural law, but also works to enhance it.