Philosophies Of John Locke's Ideal Government

Keegan Coppola

Mrs. Sauter

Block F/ World History

Semester 1 final

Philosophe

Three philosophers, three philosophies. They are all alike in some ways, although they seem very different on the surface. Each theory is well-intentioned and was truly expected to benefit the people. When designing a government, it’s impossible to please all people. So how can anyone create the perfect government? Each of these men attempted to create something that would suit their countrys5d. Thomas Hobbes believed that people are incapable of self-rule and need a monarch to make their decisions. John Locke believed that men are generally good and deserve certain rights. He also believed that the government was only present to protect those rights. Finally, Karl

John Locke summarized his interpretation of human nature when he wrote, “The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of nature for his rule” (Locke 1690). Locke uses the words “natural liberty” which we know to be synonymous with “natural right”. Natural rights are rights that everyone is born with. No person or government can deny you of your natural rights. Locke’s ideal government preserved natural rights, such as “life, liberty, and property”. This phrase may seem familiar, as it has been slightly modified, and entered into today’s U.S. constitution. The preamble reads that all people have “certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. The founding fathers were inspired by Locke’s perception of government and borrowed several of his ideas. Another of Locke’s ideas in practice in modern-day America, is expressed in this passage. This would be the concept of using legislature to protect the rights of the people. Since Locke states that it is the role of the government to protect its people and to keep their best interests at heart, he says that certain legal documents need to ensure that the government does not abuse their power. Today, the bill of rights protects fundamental