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Examples Of John Locke Tacit Consent

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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. Locke says that the type of commonwealth that will be created will be decided by the majority of the civil society (Locke 78-81). This shows the process of how Locke believes we get out of the state of nature: first by …show more content…

It can be seen then, that Locke requires consent of both: the civil society and the commonwealth, in order for a government to be legitimate. Locke says that consent can be given in two different ways: expressed consent and tacit consent. Expressed consent is when somebody performs some sort of action to show their consent. An example of this in this context would be taking an oath to be a citizen and abide by the government. Tacit consent is when a person does nothing to show their consent. Very few people expressively consent to obey the government, whether that be becoming a naturalized citizen, or taking an oath to join the military or something along those lines. So, Locke needs to claim that most of us have tacitly consented to obey the government. Locke says that any man who has any possessions, or enjoyment of the territory ruled by the government has given his tacit consent, and thus, must obey the government. However, if a person wishes to

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Locke states that they must “give up the equality, liberty, and executive power they had in the state of nature”. This is for the intention of better preserving himself. Locke favored representative government, where citizens are permitted to vote and elect members to represent the public in government. 3.

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559 Words | 3 Pages

Although, their views on the type of government and the natural rights of its citizens greatly differed, especially regarding the state of nature. The state of nature is an idea used in political philosophy that was used by Enlightenment philosophers. It’s a representation of human nature without society. Locke believed that “Men living according to reason, without a common superior on earth, to judge between them, is properly the state of nature.”

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511 Words | 3 Pages

John Locke, a 17th century philosopher from England, was a man who contained many ideas and theories on how particular civilizations should operate. John Locke philosophized “that there was an unspoken law amongst men known as “The Law of Nature” (“state of nature” Locke). The “law of nature” depicts a community in which there was only moral law. Thus the “law of nature” portrays a “state of perfect freedom where all men share their equality” (“state of nature”4). This statement basically states that “no one has power over another and are free (Locke 4)” to govern themselves accordingly.

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1208 Words | 5 Pages

Locke stated, “And this puts men out of a state of nature into that of a commonwealth, by setting up a judge on earth, with

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852 Words | 4 Pages

In a segment of, Of the State of Nature in Document A, John Locke writes, “We must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions...within the bounds of nature.” In, Of the Dissolution of Government, one part of the segment is, “The people are at liberty to provide for themselves.” All of the evidence is from John Locke himself. He wrote both of the books, Of the State of Nature and Of the Dissolution of Government. Both segments of the document include people having the choice to their own

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Locke believed that it is people’s inherent right to govern themselves. He “championed the social contract and govern­ment by consent”. (Steven) He even went so far to say that people did not need to be governed. All that government is is a framework by which people protect their natural rights, but it only needs to exist in practice.

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697 Words | 3 Pages

In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke revealed his interests in new science, developing theories of education and knowledge (SMW, 34). One of the main points in his Treatise is that of the law of nature, where all men are in natural state of perfect freedom (SMW, 34). Locke argues, “Men being…by nature all free, equal, and independent,

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894 Words | 4 Pages

In his “Second Treatise of Government,” John Locke explores the crucial relationship and interplay between natural law and government authority, arguing governmental infringement upon natural rights not only justifies but deems revolution as a necessary course of action. Locke contends that these drastic measures are only warranted as a last resort in response to the government acting as a tyrannical force, rather than a protector of life, liberty, and property. Through careful analysis, Locke advocates for revolution with respect to practical implications. Locke’s theory of natural law forms the core for his support of revolution, emphasizing that governments must exist solely to provide a commonwealth that is advantageous to the people and

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702 Words | 3 Pages

Locke does differentiate between tyranny and legitimate power, and individuals believing that there is tyranny under these branches when a law that they don’t agree with, is

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Regarding the thoughts of John Locke, readers can quickly identify what Locke wanted to address. In the book, Second Treatise on Civil Government, Locke discusses the state of nature of people, or their natural instincts. Locke focuses on political (personal) freedom and a thought from him is that all people as individuals could disregard the natural law in the state of nature. For example Locke writes, “(W)e must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose [manage] of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature,” (Locke). Locke

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Locke’s definition of liberty depends on whether the person is in the state of nature, in which people are “without subordination or subjection” (Locke 101) or if they have formed into a commonwealth, or whenever “any number of men are so united into one society, as to quit every one his executive power of the law of nature, and resign it to the public” (Locke 137-38). In the Lockean state of nature, men have a “freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and persons” (Locke 101). This freedom is still limited by what Locke refers to as the law of nature, or that “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions” (Locke 102). He also defines the liberty of the state of nature as “not to be under any will or legislative authority of man” (Locke 109). In his form of commonwealth, there is more limited freedom, in which liberty is to “be under no legislative power, but that established, by the consent of the commonwealth” (Locke 110).

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897 Words | 4 Pages

If the government rests on consent, and if consent is ever removed, then the people have the right to revolt, to cast off one government and replace it with another government. The people get the idea of legitimate government of being limited. Government can’t do anything that’s limited in its powers, which come from its work. There is religious toleration, separation of church and state, which all comes from Locke, and the notion of constitutional democracies that limit

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The State of Nature, although a state wherein there is no civil authority or government to punish people for transgressions against laws, is not a state without morality. To Locke, persons are assumed to be equal to one another in such a state, and therefore equally capable of discovering and being bound by the Law of Nature. The Law of Nature, which is on Locke’s view the basis of all morality, and given to us by God, commands that we not harm others with regards to their life, health, liberty, or possessions. This is because we all belong equally to God, and because we cannot take away that which is rightfully His, we are prohibited from harming one another. So, the State of Nature is a state of liberty where persons are free to pursue their own interests and plans, free from interference, and, because of the Law of Nature and the restrictions that it imposes upon persons, it is relatively peaceful.

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1656 Words | 7 Pages

Literature review and background What is known and unknown about community work models? Models guide social workers in achieving their community work missions of changing and serving groups in communities (Weil, 1996). Working models based on practical experiences are considered intermediaries to theoretical generalization (Thompson, 1996). In fact, different models involve different practical variables, such as objectives, methods, or value assumptions (Rothman, 1968). Models may be applied to various kinds of communities and professional tasks by community workers (Gamble and Weil, 2010).

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Only those who are born with true philosophical understanding can rule. In the Second Treatise by John Locke, Locke addresses the state of nature, which is essentially equality and freedom. Even though people have liberty, they still need to obey natural laws. On the contrary of Plato’s just city, Locke believes that absolute authority is not a civil government. A civil society is where the majority rules.

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