Premium Essay

John Locke: Free And Exceptional Society

Submitted By
Words 543
Pages 3
John Locke: men are by nature free and equal people have rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, that have a foundation independent of the laws of any particular society. It is every man’s right to determine how he should live his life in society. An equal, rational society in which humans naturally live their lives selfishly free and equal with life developmental resources distributed equally so that every individual can inspire to aspire and without the limited proportion placed upon them by the state or church. A prevalent society that upholds the rights of economic freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of trade, competitive freedom with little or no state intervention. The foundational assumption that in hindsight elaborates …show more content…
This ideology was pivotal in establishing regulated bodies of state that compromise of governing individuals who created laws to govern/ intercede the interactions and actions of individuals within society. These laws can be classified as preventative measures put into place to prevent an erratic social apocalypse that may see individuals destroy each other and themselves. Prior to the social contract, individuals seek to live in harmony with each other by surrendering or “trading” their rights with each other to coexist in a livable society, however this form of barter was not enough to prevent some individuals from executing their free will and doing entirely whatever they felt like doing including murdering, without the fear of repercussions. This eventually gave way for the forming of a political state where in order to be protected under the wings of the governing body, whether it be the police force, magistrate or judge, individuals consensually gave up a portion of their natural rights for a cloak of protection. This ideology does not mean that society must subject to any one governing body or to the rules of any state if the state itself is weak. Therefore if the state is ineffective, corrupt, biased or unjust, then through the social treaty citizens were given the rights to revoke their contract to

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Assess The Role Of Liberalism In Australia

...history is a product of the ideas and beliefs that influence our actions. Throughout history, regimes events and ideologies have had a significant role in shaping aspects of global society. It is believed that through the events associated with the motives and values of Islamic extremist’s terrorism ideologies such as liberalism have responded in such a way that has had influence in response to these events. This inquiry is intended to answer the above statement through analysing the fundamental ideas and beliefs associated with liberalism as well as evaluating its effect abroad and domestically here in Australia. The response to global terror as a result of Islamic extremists...

Words: 1065 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

On Reasonable Accommodation

...On Reasonable Accommodation INTRODUCTION Our modern society has long been governed by classic liberal notions advocated by thinkers such as John Stuart Mill and John Locke, Emmanuel Kant. A traditional conception of equality is generally prioritized in their work, outlining a highly formal approach premised on uniform treatment, colour-blindness and an emphasis on the Rule of Law. However, in the contemporary context of today, such an ideological hope tends to play the role of the ignorant fool, who disregards the complexity of our society. We are in need of a system that opens its eyes, stops hiding behind a “veil of ignorance” (Sandel, 1998:24) and adopts a more flexible approach. The Bouchard – Taylor Commission demonstrates exactly this notion. This essay will argue in favour of one of the major claims made by Gerard Bouchard & Charles Taylor, that reasonable accommodation, in essence a more substantive equality perspective is a necessary, if not mandatory approach that a multicultural society is in dire need of adopting, clarifying and deeply enforcing. I will discuss the logic and rational that underpins harmonization measures by exploring how social norms & ideologies have played an especially important role is systemic discrimination, then, how Canadian Law and legal institutions have played a role in constructing and maintaining racial stereotypes, and then, how the media plays an especially vital role in further denouncing minority groups. I will then provide...

Words: 2940 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

To Be American

...“To be American (unlike being English or French or whatever) is precisely to imagine a destiny rather than inherit one; since we have always been, insofar as we are Americans at all, inhabitants of myth rather than history.” In the context of this quote attributed to Leslie Fiedler, being American means subscribing to a socially constructed national identity--to the collective American Dream. This observation expresses a core truth about Americans, and about an American greatness that is in fact exceptional, but it is also problematic in several ways. First, the public has never felt compelled to fix the meaning of the American Dream, a term that presumably everyone knows. Second, while Fielder’s assertion is true of Americans, it is not uniquely so: All people, in some sense or another, inhabit myths. Finally, while Americans have certainly imagined destinies for themselves, they also live in history. Everyone does. The American Dream is neither a self-evident falsehood nor a scientifically demonstrable principle. Beyond the abstract belief that anything is possible if you want it bad enough, there is no single American Dream. The theoretical basis for the American idea incorporates an explicit allegiance to the concept “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.” But as the history of slavery and the struggle for women’s rights make clear, the rights...

Words: 1791 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

British Inheritance

...stolen from European, and especially British, sources. Thus, America's founding ideas are really just the ideas of the English 'country party' put into action in British colonies. This is an achievement, to be sure, but it is in no way an especially or exceptional American achievement." There are many sources of influence for America’s ideals of liberty, freedom, and democracy in the modern world. Such as Democracy of ancient Greece, The Republic of ancient Rome, and the writings of Baron de Montesquieu. Many of these sources are distinctly English such as English common law, The Magna Carta. In regards to the specific comment above we look at the ‘Country Party’ and ‘The Cota Letters’. As an American I would like to think that our founding fathers’ have created something new and completely unique in t our country, however my readings have lead me to the understanding that the founding fathers had several sources of inspiration as to how to form and what kind of government to form in these states, united. The “Country Party” as mentioned in the quote above, is of particular importance to the ideas of Democracy, liberty, and freedom. The Country Party was especially inspired by political theorist, writer and philosopher Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke. Bolingbroke’s ideology was that of opposing the problems he saw with the current political climate in Great Britain The Country Party also harkens back to the writings of the seventeenth century writings of Harrington and...

Words: 1060 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Islamand Freedom

...liberal society because it is one of its fundamental and most valuable tenets but how ‘free’, freedom of speech should be has been a bone of contention in diverse liberal society. The discourse about freedom of speech and the offense and harms it can constitute in a society has been an issue since the inception of liberalism. The Rushdie’s affair in 1989 brought into public view “the nature of Islam and its relationship with the West” (K. Malik 41).The Rushdie’s affair, generated as a result of a book, Satanic Verses, written by Rushdie Salman, it aggravated the Muslim society to the extent that a fatwa was issued ordering his death. In 2005, the publication of the Mohammed cartoons by Jyllands-Posten reignited the debate on freedom of speech and its limitations and there were two sides to it. On one hand of the debate, there are people who argue that for social harmony and progress in a plural or diverse society, “constraining free speech” or limiting it out of respect for the deeply held views of the different group is important (K. Malik 53). There are also those who argue for the right to free speech only when it is to their benefit or interest, which is double standards. That is, they use freedom of speech as a means to an end. To this end, Kenan Malik, a London writer and strong proponent of free speech, disagrees with both sides of the debate, calling them “enemies of free speech” because they in one way or the other limit the use of free speech in a diverse society and by...

Words: 1987 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Leadership

...The Catalyst Leader by Brad Lomenick Name: Instruction: Date: A leader is defined as a person who influences other people towards certain goals. A leader in the basic meaning takes the lead role by example and motivates others to follow. Leadership is an important aspect of all human activities. Effective leadership helps nations during difficult times and makes a business organization successful. It enables organizations to fulfill their missions and most importantly, effective leadership in parents enables children to grow strong and healthy and become responsible and productive adults in the society. Nurturing and building leadership skills in young people is an assurance of stability and growth for the society and organizations. Brad Lomenick in his book ‘The Catalyst Leader: 8 Essentials for Becoming a Change Maker’ defines leadership and describes the hallmark traits of effective leadership. Most of the leadership approaches that Brad has identified are universal and are congruent with the academic literature on leadership. The study of leadership approaches has been an important part of the literature on organizational behavior and management. Leadership receives more interest than any other role in many organizations (Schwandt &Marquardt, 2000, p.15). Leadership concepts have been studied for a long time dating back to Plato and Caesar times (Bass, 1981, p. 28). Although there is a lack of harmony about the exact definition of leadership, a literature review shows...

Words: 1521 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Medi

...For other uses, see Constitution (disambiguation). A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.[1] These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is. When these principles are written down into a single document or set of legal documents, those documents may be said to embody a written constitution; if they are written down in a single comprehensive document, it is said to embody a codified constitution. Constitutions concern different levels of organizations, from sovereign states to companies and unincorporated associations. A treaty which establishes an international organization is also its constitution, in that it would define how that organization is constituted. Within states, a constitution defines the principles upon which the state is based, the procedure in which laws are made and by whom. Some constitutions, especially codified constitutions, also act as limiters of state power, by establishing lines which a state's rulers cannot cross, such as fundamental rights. An example is the constitution of the United States of America. George Washington at Constitutional Convention of 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world,[2] containing 444 articles in 22 parts,[3][4] 12 schedules and 118 amendments, with 117,369 words in its English-language translation,[5]...

Words: 9424 - Pages: 38

Premium Essay

Culinary

...Pre-Socratic Period Thales of Miletus Background: Thales of Miletus (fl. c. 585 BC) is regarded as the father of philosophy. Thales of Miletus was considered one of the Seven Wise Men of ancient Greece. Thales was the first of the Greek natural philosophers and founder of the Ionian school of ancient Greek thinkers. Works/Writings/Philosophy:  His is said to have measured the Egyptian pyramids and to have calculated the distance from shore of ships at sea using his knowledge of geometry.  He also predicted an eclipse of the sun. In geometry Thales has been credited with the discovery of five theorems like the one that a triangle inscribed in a semicircle has a right angle. He tried to discover the substance from which everything in nature is made off and suggested water.  Thales is important in bridging the worlds of myth and reason. He initiated the revolutionary notion that to understand the world one needed to know its nature and that there was an explanation for all phenomena in natural terms. That was a giant step from the assumptions of the old world that supernatural forces determined almost everything.  While considering the effects of magnetism and static electricity, he concluded that the power to move other things without the mover itself changing was a characteristic of "life", so that a magnet and amber must therefore be alive in some way (in that they have animation or the power to act). If so, he argued, there is no difference between the living and the dead...

Words: 17879 - Pages: 72

Premium Essay

Nadia

...13-Antonakis.qxd 11/26/03 5:38 PM Page 302 CHAPTER 13 Ethics and Leadership Effectiveness Joanne B. Ciulla T he moral triumphs and failures of leaders carry a greater weight and volume than those of nonleaders (Ciulla, 2003b). In leadership we see morality magnified, and that is why the study of ethics is fundamental to our understanding of leadership. The study of ethics is about human relationships. It is about what we should do and what we should be like as human beings, as members of a group or society, and in the different roles that we play in life. It is about right and wrong and good and evil. Leadership is a particular type of human relationship. Some hallmarks of this relationship are power and/or influence, vision, obligation, and responsibility. By understanding the ethics of this relationship, we gain a better understanding of leadership, because some of the central issues in ethics are also the central issues of leadership. They include the personal challenges of authenticity, self-interest, and self-discipline, and moral obligations related to justice, duty, competence, and the greatest good. Some of the most perceptive work on leadership and ethics comes from old texts and is out there waiting to be rediscovered and reapplied. History is filled with wisdom and case studies on the morality of leaders and leadership. Ancient scholars from the East and West offer insights that enable us to understand leadership and Author’s Note:...

Words: 13956 - Pages: 56

Premium Essay

Ethics and Leadership Effectiveness

...13-Antonakis.qxd 11/26/03 5:38 PM Page 302 CHAPTER 13 Ethics and Leadership Effectiveness Joanne B. Ciulla T he moral triumphs and failures of leaders carry a greater weight and volume than those of nonleaders (Ciulla, 2003b). In leadership we see morality magnified, and that is why the study of ethics is fundamental to our understanding of leadership. The study of ethics is about human relationships. It is about what we should do and what we should be like as human beings, as members of a group or society, and in the different roles that we play in life. It is about right and wrong and good and evil. Leadership is a particular type of human relationship. Some hallmarks of this relationship are power and/or influence, vision, obligation, and responsibility. By understanding the ethics of this relationship, we gain a better understanding of leadership, because some of the central issues in ethics are also the central issues of leadership. They include the personal challenges of authenticity, self-interest, and self-discipline, and moral obligations related to justice, duty, competence, and the greatest good. Some of the most perceptive work on leadership and ethics comes from old texts and is out there waiting to be rediscovered and reapplied. History is filled with wisdom and case studies on the morality of leaders and leadership. Ancient scholars from the East and West offer insights that enable us to understand leadership and Author’s Note:...

Words: 13956 - Pages: 56

Premium Essay

American Civilisation

...Stephen Mennell HISTORY, NATIONAL CHARACTER AND AMERICAN CIVILISATION America is a land of familiar paradoxes. An agreeable civility habitually prevails in most everyday relations among people in America – yet the United States is factually a socially highly unequal society. In most parts of America, the laws and social customs strongly restrain people from doing harm to themselves and others by smoking – yet the laws and social customs only weakly restrain people from doing harm to themselves and others by the use of guns, and the murder rate is about four times as high per capita as in Western Europe. The usa is the world’s remaining super-power – yet internally the American state is in some ways strikingly weak. The usa has ‘saved the world for democracy’ on more than one occasion – but has itself become an aggressive militaristic society. And there appears to be an increasing divergence between how a large proportion of Americans view themselves and their country and how they are perceived by a large proportion of the 95 per cent of the world’s population who are not Americans. Hunting down myths It has been said that sociologists must be ‘myth-hunters’, tracking down popular beliefs that are ill founded (Elias 1978: 50-70). Whether simply exposing such beliefs to contrary evidence deployed by academics is sufficient to kill off myths and bring them home for mounting on the walls of our university departments is highly debateable. Nevertheless, we have a duty to call...

Words: 9313 - Pages: 38

Premium Essay

Education Diversity

...2 Understanding Diversity in the Classroom CHAPTER LEARNING GOALS After you study this chapter, you will be able to: 1. Explain the importance of understanding classroom diversity. 2. Explain the different group and individual sources of diversity. 3. Describe approaches to teaching in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. 4. Explain the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 5. Explain the characteristics of students with exceptionalities. 6. Describe the role of the teacher in the inclusive classroom. Imagine You Are the Teacher It Is The First Teaching year at Lincoln Elementary School for Ms. Branson. She has 30 fifth-graders of whom 13 are girls and 17 are boys, 12 participate in the free and reduced lunch program, 5 are English language learners, and 4 have individualized education programs (IEPs). As she plans her lesson on paragraph writing, she is trying to keep the special needs of each of her students in mind. Because Jessica has a hearing impairment, Ms. Branson decides to make a written outline that includes the important parts of a paragraph and examples of good and bad paragraphs. She also decides to go over the outline several times because Fred and Alex have a reading disability. In her plan, there is also a note to herself to find a bigger pencil and wide-lined paper for Suzy, who requires these modifications according to her IEP. Based on past writing experiences, she expects Monica to finish writing her paragraph...

Words: 31653 - Pages: 127

Premium Essay

The Role of Community in Disaster Response

...Popul Res Policy Rev (2010) 29:127–141 DOI 10.1007/s11113-009-9133-x The Role of Community in Disaster Response: Conceptual Models Olivia Patterson • Frederick Weil • Kavita Patel Received: 1 May 2007 / Accepted: 15 October 2008 / Published online: 5 November 2009 Ó Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009 Abstract We focus on the role that community plays in the continuum of disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and we explore where community fits in conceptual frameworks concerning disaster decision-making. We offer an overview of models developed in the literature as well as insights drawn from research related to Hurricane Katrina. Each model illustrates some aspect of the spectrum of disaster preparedness and recovery, beginning with risk perception and vulnerability assessments, and proceeding to notions of resiliency and capacity building. Concepts like social resilience are related to theories of ‘‘social capital,’’ which stress the importance of social networks, reciprocity, and interpersonal trust. These allow individuals and groups to accomplish greater things than they could by their isolated efforts. We trace two contrasting notions of community to Tocqueville. On the one hand, community is simply an aggregation of individual persons, that is, a population. As individuals, they have only limited capacity to act effectively or make decisions for themselves, and they are strongly subject to administrative decisions that authorities impose on them....

Words: 5949 - Pages: 24

Free Essay

Professor Nall Philosophy Journal 2016

...i actually questioned if god did exist during the time between the arguments of an existence of a creator to the topic about the different types of evil. furthermore, after different events that have happened outside of class and actually learning about the information in class, i personally believe my thinking developed in a way that makes me critically think about everything i decide to believe in and not just follow it like a robot. To clarify, I am still a roman catholic and i think my faith actually strengthened because of this class. additionally, i have developed new insight and a new perspective on fallacies and contradictory statements. Before this class, i never really thought of fallacies and how often they take place in our society today. Ultimately, in this class, i definitely discovered a different part of me, a part of me that really will start thinking about different ideologies and beliefs, someone who basically is open to new...

Words: 9309 - Pages: 38

Free Essay

Fallacies of Development

...AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: THE IMPERATIVES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND VALUES by MARTIN ODEI AJEI submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the subject PHILOSOPHY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROFESSOR M. B. RAMOSE AUGUST 2007 Contents Declaration Acknowledgement List of Acronyms Key terms Summary vi vii viii x xi INTRODUCTION: DEVELOPMENT AND PHILOSOPHY i. Statement of the Problem ii. Against Economism iii. Critique of Competition iv. Poverty is Unnatural v. Thesis Statement vi. Methodology vii. Structure of Dissertation 1 1 1 5 6 9 10 15 CHAPTER ONE: DIMENSIONS OF DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON AFRICA 1.1. What is Development 1.2. Development and Economic Growth 1.3. Schools of Development Thought and their Influence in Africa 1.3.1. The Modernization School and its Essential Claims 1.3.1.1. Growth Theory under Economic Liberalism 1.3.1.2. Evolutionary Theory 1.3.1.3. Functionalist Theory 1.3.1.4. Common Assumptions and Methodology 1.3.1.5 The Influence of Modernization on Development Practice in Africa 1.3.1.6. Critique of Modernization 1.3.2 Dependency Theory and its Essential Claims 21 21 25 27 27 28 29 30 32 34 36 39 i 1.3.3. The Theoretical Heritage of Dependency Theory 1.3.3.1. Structuralist Economics and the ‘Prebisch Thesis’ 1.3.3.2. Marxism 1.3.4. Common Assumptions of Dependency Theory 1.3.5. Criticisms of Dependency Theory 1.3.6. The Influence of Dependency Theory on African Development Practice...

Words: 90729 - Pages: 363