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How Does John Locke Agree That He Is In Favor Of Capital Punishment

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Based on the Second Treatise of Government, does John Locke suggest that he is in favor or opposes capital punishment? Locke is fairly vague when addressing this topic and he certainly never offers a clear cut answer to the question. He bounces different arguments off each other while analyzing the question in different situations. After weighing all of the evidence it appears that Locke is ultimately in favor of capital punishment.

Locke argues early on in support of an “always choose life” approach. In chapter two of the Treatise, Locke states that “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions” (9). This would mean that the death penalty would be unacceptable in all cases, because we have our God given right to life and no one can take that from us. It is clear that Locke places great value on property which of course includes life. Locke later states in chapter three that …show more content…

The primary goal of the government in Locke’s commonwealth is the protection of our property which includes our bodies. Life, health, liberty, and possessions are still civil rights in a political society, but in a large society do we look past the rights of individuals for the good of all? If self-preservation for the entire society is to be valued, then maybe it is right to take the life of a murderer to benefit others. Here Locke shows glimpses of showing support for the death penalty. If someone violates my right to life, then the same should be done to them not only as punishment but also to put an end to their opportunity to harm someone else. This is a narrow-minded way of thinking and Locke would agree at least in today’s society. In present times, unlike that of the 17th century, prisons are secure enough to keep any serial killers behind bars for life. This takes the member out of society but at the same time preserves his right to

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Charles Richard Drew was born on June 3, 1904, in Washington, D.C (Charles Drew). He was an African-American doctor who created approaches to process and store blood plasma in "blood donation centers." He coordinated the blood plasma projects of the United States and Great Britain in World War II, however surrendered after a decision that the blood of African-Americans would be isolated. He passed on April 1, 1950. A spearheading African-American restorative specialist, Dr. Charles R. Drew made some notable disclosures in the capacity and handling of blood for transfusions.

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Locke clearly says that in the even of one man committing a crime against another, then the victim has the right to retaliate and serve justice. In this chapter, Locke has acknowledged that in a state of nature, there are no laws (as we would understand them in the modern day). Reason rules in the natural state, but this is also the reasons that rulers exist. Because in a natural state, someone must be there in order to keep laws and hand down justice. Locke brings up the idea deterrence and explains that every man has the right to protect himself and his family, however, in the event that someone murders another, then it is just if you execute the murderer.

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A thief is unjust because he wants to have what is not his and he has not worked for. Unjust people do not realize the virtues and duties proper to their situation in life or they treat someone worse than how they should be treated. He believed for justice to be achieved whether in the state or in the individual. Locke’s idea of justice was every individual has the basic

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Locke believed that people were born with natural rights that included the right to life, liberty, and property. Locke argued that people formed governments to protect their natural rights, so the best kind of government was one with limited power and was accepted by all citizens. Locke said that a government has an obligation to the people it governs, therefore, the people have a right to revolt if the government fails at its obligations. Like many other Enlightenment philosophers, John Locke’s ideas reflected on the checks and balance system as well as the Declaration of Independence. For example, in the Declaration of Independence, it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

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I believe that death penalty is considered to be a cruel and unusual punishment. In my opinion, a life is priceless and shouldn 't be taken away without their willingness. All men are created equal- no man was made better than the other and therefore should not bring death on their life. On the other hand, I think that there are more reasons why people would support the death penalty.

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In the Two Treatises of Government (1689), he defended the claim that men are naturally free and equal against claims that God had made all people naturally subject to a monarch. With both biblical and philosophical justifications, Locke argued in defense of constitutionalism. He believed God gave Adam natural rights like; life, liberty, and property in the book of Genesis and Adam passed it on to the rest of

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