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John Locke Essays
Lasting impact john locke had on political aspects of modern world
John locke political theory
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Much of the American Government used today comes from fellow philosophers who with their help; helped put our country in order. John Locke proposed that humans are born with natural right laws; Declaration of Independence, Preamble to the United States Constitution, Representative Government (Republic) and Limits
Thomas Jefferson was clearly familiar with Locke’s work when drafting the Declaration of Independence where he stated that Americans had the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The Enlightenment influenced colonists to think rationally about their government, realize what was lacking, and work to change it. John Locke also stated that citizens had the obligation to revolt if their government did not protect their rights. Enlightenment ideas did not result in any real change in the years before the Seven Years War but they were consumed and discussed by colonists who would use them in the years to
In the Non-Fiction by Jon Krakauer, Into The Wild, we are introduced to the eccentric mind of 24 year old Christopher Johnson McCandless. Chris came from a family who was financially stable. When he graduated from Emory University, Christopher Johnson McCandless took off without the awareness of his loved ones, gave all his savings to OXFAM, destroyed everything in his wallet, and reinvented a whole new life for himself. In my opinion, I think what McCandless did is something to be admired. He did so many things without the need of a companion or society in general.
One of the biggest influences that John Locke had on President Jefferson was, what John Locke dubbed, “Natural Rights,” and what Jefferson called, “Unalienable Rights.” Meaning practically the same thing, these rights were very similar, and it is obvious that Jefferson’s version derives from Locke’s ‘Natural Rights.’ John Locke’s version stated that all peoples shall possess the following rights: Life, Liberty, and Property. In this case, life means, that people people will fight to live and want to survive. Liberty refers to being free, and being able to make one’s own decision.
He believed that people were born with reason and in with that came common interests and peace, but he also knew that people would need something to act as a third party in natural brawls. He supported a government that would take action when needed but other-wise stay at bay. When this government made appearance at times in need of control the people would willingly consent to a social contract, which was the notion of at times for the good of the people losing some freedoms. With this government, and its powers came the important opportunity for the people to discard the representatives that they felt were not governing for the people. Locke knew that man was easily influence by self-interest, and if man governed man that wouldn’t it be only natural for government to become a self-interested tool for its own consumption of power and benefits; Madison’s theories constantly worried of a central government that would obtain too much power.
Locke believed that the government was to protect the people’s natural rights. On the people’s behalf they must follow the laws of the land. The Declaration of Independence says “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive …, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it…” Locke states, “…that he who attempts to get another man into his absolute power, does thereby put himself into a state of war with him...” and create a new political system.
Locke specified fundamental natural rights as life, liberty and property. By life, Locke expressed that an individuals have both a right and a duty to preserve their own lives; by liberty, Locke argued that individuals should be free to make choices and how to live their own lives without interfering with the liberties of other; by property, Locke meant that land and goods could be sold, given away, or even taken away by the government but more specifically, property also referred to ownership of one's self and the right to well
The historical development of the world from 1690 to 1830 wouldn’t be what it was if it weren’t for John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government. Locke’s Second Treatise not only sparked individualism, but also revolutions, and was a guide to the creations of declarations around the world. Two main revolutions and declarations that Locke’s ideas inspired were the American Revolution and the French Revolution.
Locke helped shape the United States government and many other nations governing systems around the world. Locke believed all men were born with the rights of life or your natural rights of liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and a government should protect and respect the rights of individuals. Under the protection of your government he believed “whom the society hath set over itself, with this express or tacit trust, that it shall be employed for their good, and the preservation of their property: now this power, which every man has in the state of nature, and which he parts with to the society in all such cases where the society can secure him, is to use such means, for the preserving of his own property, as he thinks good, and nature allows him; and to punish the breach of the law of nature in other” (Document C). By introducing natural rights the common people gained more power through an equality between all men. Natural rights gave people the right to possess and protect their own property both physical items and personal ideals.
I believe in the right to own property and to maintain it” (Document B). He clearly expressed that every life holds opportunity and maybe not complete freedom if everyone is not equal to one another, but they will have liberty. Even today the government is not centered by liberty, but everyone still has the right to live a life of freedom and experience the quest for happiness. Similar to the unalienable rights, Americans have the chance to gain happiness by expressing their voice to be a part of the authority that our government is centered
One of the most famous lines in all of America’s documents sums up John Locke’s theory of natural laws. “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.” [5] This statement means that God gives us rights, such as life, liberty, and happiness. These rights cannot be taken away and are equally given by God to all men. It is easy for one to notice that this idea proposed in the Declaration is almost identical to Locke’s proposed natural rights philosophy from Second Treatise of Government.
Enlightened thought presented by Locke outlined the formation for a new government that served the people of the nation, restoring their rights and liberties, rather than just the
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
Locke, in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, claimed that the concept of universal assent is true, for “there is such a universal assent and nothing else.” In contrast to what Leibniz considered as a universal assent, “What is, is,” he argued that infants and severely handicapped adults could not even generally acknowledge this truism. Although Leibniz has suggested that empiricism simply invokes the resurfacing of innate ideas through experiential prompts, Locke attacked by stating that we may be aware that we know the idea, but by experiencing the first, we would only then be able to recall the rest. Clearly both the rationalist and empiricist have established the central significances of their argument.
Contrastly, Locke does admit to a summum bonum, he describes the greatest good as the “infinite eternal joys of Heaven.” Locke elaborates on the greatest good by describing man’s desire for the good and the role of the will in attaining that good. Locke explains that man acts in accordance to the greatest good when he desires it. And it is only in desiring the good that man’s will is prompted and he is moved to act in accordance with that desire. He explains, “the infinitly greater possible good should regularly and constantly determine the will in all the successive actions it directs…”
