John Locke's Philosophies After The Paleolithic Revolution

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After the passing of the Paleolithic Revolution, individuals of ancient times began to adapt towards the elements of civilization and the congregation of the community. Aware of their previous state of mind as nomadic hunters and gatherers, people had to make sure their savagery evolves to decency and consider the welfare of all rather than the welfare of a few or one. John Locke, notable for his philosophies in the Enlightenment Era, stressed on the natural rights of each individual and their opinions deserve the highest recognition. Through enduring autocracies, aristocracies, and theocracies, the democratic value of “freedom of __” resonates, exercised through, and sometimes are challenged through history. In his texts, The Social Contract …show more content…

For instance, if two men discovered a tree and one of the man claimed it and demanded the other to step distance off their property, but refused to comply, war succeeds. The mentality of both men are developed through the idea of absolute freedom, which is the ability to make one’s own decisions without the interference with an apparent authority. Enlightenment philosopher Locke comes to realization that before relinquishing some of their rights to be governed that they exist in a state of perfect freedom and liberty, constructing his essay on classical liberalism. In his response to Sir Robert Filmer, a political theorist who defended divine rights, Locke alludes to the same biblical text as his opposer to justify why all individuals have perfect freedom. Without mentioning his name, Locke differentiates the Greco-Roman magistrates and the general father (quite possibly Adam) and their authoritative roles in society. Unlike magistrates and former leaders, fathers respect personal freedom, portrayed through Locke’s comparative diction, “distinguish these powers and show difference betwixt a ruler of a commonwealth, a father of a family, and a captain of a galley” (Locke, 1). This contributes to the circumstance of freedom as there must be a relative amount of deference for the individual’s