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John Locke Vs Machiavelli

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Everyone has their own opinion on how a government should be and how the order should be. Some people are known as the best leaders and some have been known hostile. Certain philosophers have made history based on their views and how they think a society should be handled. Such as John Locke and Niccolò Machiavelli have had different views; how a government should be and what rules should they place on their public. Locke was one of the best “Enlightenment Thinkers”, as for Machiavelli, he was the complete opposite of the other philosopher, Locke. Machiavelli philosophies about how the government should treat the public were very ruthless. Some of their ideas are similar around the world, even in the 21st century; there are governments where …show more content…

He represents a significant turning point in humanity’s social or cultural development because his writings about how every man should have the right to his property and liberty has influenced many people and even America represents this idea. Locke considers this to be a human’s natural right and now should show control over it. According to the article Pride, Property, and Providence, “Jonathon Edwards recalled that when he first read Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding, he was “beyond expression entertain’d and pleas’d with it”” (Caleb 1). This shows that Locke’s one philosophy about natural rights has gained significance because it defines justice and it shows sincerity towards the citizens of a country. This is one of the main significant turning points in social and cultural development as this is most of his famous philosophies. People really like it when they hear these types of ideas because to them it shows that some philosopher is concerned about their rights and those people keep supporting that philosopher until their ideas have been made …show more content…

As in some places in the world today people have their rights violated because they did not have sources or ideas to rely on and they are left helpless. When having influential works by famous “Enlightenment Thinkers” it gives the people a chance to raise their voice for their right. As Americans we are fortunate that we have works from these great philosophers who care for the public and we have the ability to raise our voice when our rights are being violated without having the fear of being punished in a hostile

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From the 16th to 18th century, countries in Europe were experiencing new ideas and reforms. Philosophers like Locke believed in social equality. They have discussed the purpose of a government and spread their ideas. Locke’s ideas led to the revolution in France, who didn’t have rights under absolute monarch’s control. After the French gained their rights, people in Haiti started to fight because they wanted to have the same rights that French gained during the reform.

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Lao-Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is known as the author of the Tao Te Ching, the founder of philosophical Taoism, and a god in Taoism and traditional Chinese religions. Niccolò Machiavelli was a writer of the Renaissance period. They are both philosophers that have completely different perspective on how a country should run and how the leaders should act. While both philosophers’ writing can be very useful to the government in some ways.

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Accordingly, we see that politicians avoid uses of virtue or in other words principles for his own interest which include his own security. Finally, Machiavelli describes a point of view that those in power take on the nature of humans. To rather be safe and protect their interest Machiavelli shows that politicians corrupt principles we base public policy on by stating “ For it is a good general rule about men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, liars and deceivers, fearful of danger and greedy for gain”(866). In sum, Machiavelli depicts politicians taking different points of view on principles therefore public policy in

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1886 Words | 8 Pages

He must also work to ensure that the people think that he is the most honest caring person, while in all honesty, he has never actually told anyone the truth. Machiavelli’s method is lying and aggression; that you must do whatever it takes to maintain you superiority over the people. Jean-Jacques Rousseau takes an intermediate approach to the government. He introduces the idea that the master of the government and the people under him work together to do what is best for the country. This often means that sometimes you have to give up a little, to make a big difference for the better in your community.

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901 Words | 4 Pages

Thomas Hobbes He liked to study various types of government. He thought that the government of a monarchy was better than democracy because he had no doubt that they were naturally wicked and were not to be trusted to govern. He believed that it was better to have a governor like a king that would know how to act like a leader and rule a country.

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Absolute monarchy is rule by one person, usually a King or Queen, who obtains absolute power of authority with no repercussions for what he or she does. Bishop Bossuet held strongly to the argument of absolute monarchy, whereas John Locke opposed on the basis of man's natural rights. Bossuet and Locke have different views on the government’s source of power and their ideas about the rights of the people, but agreed that their chosen theories are in the best interest of the people and held their country's unity in high regard. The first thing we can look at when comparing the two philosophers ideas, is their differences of opinions on the government's source of power.

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767 Words | 4 Pages

Locke’s ideas from the Two Treatises of Government and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, were based upon the natural rights where power comes from the people. Both of his pieces contributed to revolutions, most importantly the American Revolution as power from monarchies was removed and democracies were created. Allowed for limited government power and all obligations were to the citizens. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding basis was on how the knowledge existence of God, certain moral truths, and laws of logic or mathematics pertained to the natural rights of

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John Locke was a philosopher and political scientist. He had many interests and produced a number of writings that influenced future leaders. One of these leaders was Thomas Jefferson, who was involved with the aid of America and the act gaining independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence and Locke’s views on government contain many similar aspects. These ideas includes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (natural rights); the protection that is provided by the government for these rights; and the altering or abolishment of government if it fails to provide and protect the rights of the people.

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The Common Sense pamphlet was written by Thomas Paine he was an editor for the Pennsylvanian magazine. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. These two authors, Paine and Jefferson got their ideas from the Enlightenment philosophers Voltaire, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu. One philosopher’s ideas that was found in both documents was Voltaire.

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John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu were political philosophers that debated the question of who was best fit to control the government. Locke and Montesquieu shared similar political beliefs such as natural rights and the separation of government powers. However, both philosophers did, in fact, have their personal views that helped them accomplish important achievements. John Locke published “Two Treatises of Government” and “ An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” which present a detail philosophy of the mind and thought. Locke’s “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” lays out his philosophical project.

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Thomas Paine essentially wrote Common Sense for the common man. Being a pamphlet, its structure and simplicity made reading easy for those who were literate. Its minimalism enabled citizens in the colonies to unite under one common cause — independence against Britain. He was inspired by both John Locke’s The Second Treatise of Government as well as Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s

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Albeit Aristotle and Locke lived 2,000 years apart, their periods in history were similar. Both eras were marked by wars, tyrannical figures, and political and social instability in ancient Greece and medieval England. However, there was one major difference in their epochs, religion. The Greeks practice polytheism, while Christianity was practiced in Europe during Locke’s time.

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His strengths were outlined throughout history as his ideas became an important part of modern law. For example, Locke’s ideas of the right to life, liberty, and property are considered fundamental rights in our society today with the vast majority agreeing that it is important. In addition, Locke’s idea of separating government powers is used in current day legal systems. On the other hand, his weaknesses and flaws within his theory supported a unpredictable and unstable government. By letting citizens control how people were punished for crimes without a higher power to set our guidelines for the offenses/punishments caused injustice in some cases as similar cases begin to vary in punishment.

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1604 Words | 7 Pages

Essay 1 Aristotle and John Locke both believe humans were not created to live alone but instead among other people of the same community. Humans are not independent beings, and those who live in isolation lack the purpose of life: becoming a citizen and exercising one 's full potential of human flourishing. According to Aristotle, the collective community or multitude of citizens coexisting with one another is happiness, whereas Locke believes that the collective community is protecting autonomy and property. Both philosophers believe that to become a citizen, one must contribute to politics with the intent of creating a better society for all. Aristotle and Locke however, have differing views on how a person accomplishes this.

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Everyone has a perspective of their own about the government whether it be good or bad. Ancient Greek philosopher Plato and English philosopher John Locke both discuss the topic of government in their literatures. In the Republic by Plato, Plato introduces this concept of a just city. In this city, he believes that the older and wisest person(s) should rule as they are very knowledgeable. Everyone is born innately different according to Plato.

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