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John Locke Research Paper

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John Locke in Comparative Politics Today
Position Paper #1
POLS 3311: Comparative Politics
Hunter Crucet

This paper represents the product of my own work and does not feature collaboration with any individuals or groups. The paper is submitted to fulfill a writing assignment for this and class and this class only and it is in strict compliance with the University of Houston’s Academic Honesty Policy.
Part I Introduction: This paper is going to be about how John Locke has influenced comparative politics and why he is the most significant scholar in comparative politics. My position paper will discuss John Locke and why his Two Treatises of Government is so influential in our political climate today. Without basic private property …show more content…

John Locke was an optimistic philosopher who spent a good amount of time analyzing government and society. Locke is important because he argued that private property is essential to individual freedom and prosperity. This is absolutely crucial for a country to function properly. John was most famous for his Treatises of Two Government where he lays out the fundamentals of what he believes to be a functioning State. The first of Locke’s treaties takes a stance in contradiction of the divine rights of a king. He was arguing against a previous claim made in Patriarcha by the English Political theorist Robert Filmer. Both theories were very highly regarded during this time. John Locke was considered a leading seventeenth century progressive . Locke believed that all men would govern themselves under God’s Law and would seek what is beneficial to themselves and ultimately society. He viewed humans as creatures of …show more content…

The treaty goes into the privileges of humans and why they operate in the manner they do. Locke believed that all men are in a state of nature. He portrays humans as intelligent creatures who know the difference between good and bad doings. In his mind people act out of what is to be good. This is very applicable to the current political climate. On a macro level if all humans are acting out of the good of their own heart then all governing bodies, which consist of humans, are acting in good faith on behalf of their people. Nevertheless, this is not always the case. One counter argument that can be raised is North Korea. They have a dictatorship where their rulers are by no means ruling for the good of all of the people. Sadly however, he does claim to have their best interest in

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