...John Locke The Unofficial Founder of America John Locke is one of the most important, but largely unknown names in American history. A well renowned English philosopher, educator, government official, and theologian. The Impact of John Lock’s theses had on the Revolutionary war and the subsequent founding of the United States, is apparent to most who study his writings. Arguably Locke’s most influential work is his Second Treatise of Government. His argument was that government should be built on a mutual agreement (contract theory) and when consent of the governed is loss, or when the natural rights and liberties are violated, it is the right of the people to rise up and replace the current government. This theory can easily be seen in the Deceleration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Locke’s arguments for...
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...He is known as the father of liberal philosophy. John Locke, one of the most well known philosophers and thinkers from the Renaissance and Enlightenment. He attended some of the most prestigious schools to achieve his level of study in philosophy. He has made many contributions to the world. Including, but not limited to, contributions to governmental and political ideas. John Locke was born on August 29th 1632. He went to Westminster school when he was about 15 years old. Locke got a privileged education because of his father’s relations with the English government and after attending Westminster school he got a district honor which allowed him to attend the Christ Church at University of Oxford where he studied logic, metaphysics, and classical...
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...March 23, 2016 Word Count: 1470 America’s Co-Founders The Declaration of Independence is arguable the most important and wide known document in American history. On July 4, 1776 this document signaled America’s separation from the British Empire to the world. America is defined by the men and the minds, behind the declaration; most notably by the author, Thomas Jefferson. The boundaries of the government and rights of its citizens were crucial during the formation of this constitution since these principles were exactly the reason for the uprising of the original thirteen colonies. Thomas Jefferson dedicated most of his life to the crucial needs of America and its government in order to form a true republic of the people. Like many of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson strengthened his beliefs through personal studies and deep examination of European history. Many history books will tell that the contributing factors that formed Thomas Jefferson’s ideas of the identity of America were linked to events such as the Reformation, the Renaissance, and the British Country party. However, one man’s works continually surfaced in Jefferson’s political and even private writings. John Locke, a British Enlightenment philosopher, was repeatedly referenced in documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Notes on the State of Virginia, and the Summary View of the Rights of British America. Jefferson repeatedly used Locke’s concepts as would even sometimes use the exact same phrases...
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...often influences the generations after them. Documents like the the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut which influence our Constitution or the English Bill of Rights which influences our Bill of Rights are good examples of this practices. But perhaps one of the the most famous United State use of this is the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence has many similar ideas on the government and its relations with it citizens from John Locke’s Social Contract. One similarity both documents share is the mention of unalienable rights, god given rights that cannot be taken away. The Social Contract states “we retain the right to life and liberty, and gain the right to just, impartial protection of property.” and while the Declaration of Independence is very similar with it inalienable rights, the exact quote is “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.”. The difference within these sets of our inalienable rights is most likely due to the time period in which each document was created. John Locke wrote the Social...
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...The influences of history, culture, economics, and philosophy on the drafters of the Declaration of Independence are clear throughout the work and are still relevant today in American Political Society. The Declaration of Independence was heavily influenced by a variety of documents, philosophies, history, culture, economics. There is the history of how the Declaration of Independence came about before it was pushed for. The Declaration declared that the thirteen American colonies would regard themselves as independent sovereign states no longer under British rule. The thirteen American colonies had been at war with the Kingdom of Great Britain. At the time, England was a monarchy overseen by the Catholic church. The Magna Carta served...
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...**Discuss how a famous philosopher (of your choosing) influenced the way American's political system was formed and how it still works today** John Locke’s Influence on American Democracy John Locke (1632–1704) was a British philosopher, Oxford academic, and political activist. Locke is referred to by many American political philosophers as one of the most influential political philosophers of the modern period. His ideologies and beliefs in regards to politics, religion, and the relationship between a country’s citizens and its government are heavily referenced within some of the United States’ most important documents. Locke’s association with Anthony Ashley Cooper led him to become a successful government official, an economic and political writer, an opposition political activist, and finally a revolutionary whose cause ultimately prevailed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (Woolhouse, 2007). John Locke’s many writings and speeches on the importance of the freedom of man from a totalitarian government has influenced American politics dating back to the early days of the Continental Congress and the drafting of the United States Declaration of Independence. Perhaps the most central concept in Locke's political philosophy that influenced American political thought is his theory of natural law and natural rights. Among Locke's political works, he is most famous for the Two Treatise of Government in which he argues that sovereignty resides in the people and explains that...
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...The Social Contract Theory of John Locke Paper University of phoenix Finance and Budgeting in Justice and Security AJS/532 Matthew O’Deane November 20, 2013 The Social Contract Theory of John Locke Paper My paper evaluates the Social Contract Theory of John Locke, and how his principles are even within the criminal justice system, and private security situations nowadays. This paper shall also in great detail debate whether or not Locke’s’ values and beliefs pertain to criminal justice as well as private security venues. A summary will be presented to identify key dissimilarities of the social contract theories, recognize key any principles connected with Locke’s social contract theory, label how these codes are instilled within the United States Bill of Rights, recognize how these principles show within the criminal justice system and security organizations of present, and lastly define independence in regards to personal rights and proper principles, and commitments. “A social contract is a voluntary agreement in which mutual benefit occurs between and for individuals, groups, government or a community as a whole. According to Locke, the State of Nature, the natural condition of mankind, is a state of perfect and complete liberty to conduct one's life as one best sees fit, free from the interference of others (Kelly, Martin. (2012)).” This doesn’t mean that it is a state of authorization: a citizen isn’t...
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...John Locke's contributions in Philosophy and political views are followed and practiced even to this day. Locke’s ideas influenced religion, economics, political change, theories of knowledge and the human understanding that led to governmental and social improvements. John Locke believed in political reform. John Locke is one of the most influential authors and political philosophers in history. His ideas and views have influenced such momentous commodity such as the American constitution. Many of Locke’s ideas were used in the creation of the United States Constitution. John Locke was a British philosopher and medical researcher. Locke was born to Agnes Keene and John Locke on August 29, 1632, in Somerset, England. His father was a Puritan lawyer, who served as a Captain during the English civil war. Locke’s schooling began at Westminster School in 1647. He earned the title of King’s Scholar, which prepared him for the next phase of his education at the Christ Church in Oxford in 1652. He studied literature, physical science, medicine, politics, and natural philosophy. In 1656 he continued for his Master of Arts degree. In 1665 at Oxford, Locke encountered Lord Ashley, a notable statesman looking for medical treatment. After a friendship formed, Ashley invited Locke to join him in London as his personal physician. Locke agreed and left for London in 1667, where he lived for the next eight years. This was the beginning of Locke’s deep political interests, which was...
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...| John Locke | The father of modern liberalism | | Cole Davis | 5/20/2012 | | Liberalism, a political ideology based on the belief that constant progress is achievable, the human race is composed of intrinsically good beings, and that these intrinsically good beings are and should be autonomous in nature, is an idea that made an incredible resurgence during the English enlightenment. As the belief of Liberalism gained popularity with the public it also developed an enormous following among European philosophers. John Locke, the individual responsible for the idea of natural rights as well as the social compact, helped mold this idea of Liberalism into its own unique philosophical tradition. Because of these great contributions, John Locke is considered as father of modern liberalism. Born August 29, 1632 at Wrington in Somerset, John Locke was the son of a lawyer and the oldest child of his Puritan household (Locke, Berkeley, Hume). While Locke was a child, his father closely monitored and guided his education. An incredibly educated individual, Locke first received a formal education at Westminster School eventually graduating to Christ Church, Oxford (Collinson). After receiving his bachelors of arts in 1656, Locke stayed at Oxford to earn his master’s degree. Locke became the censor of moral philosophy in 1664 and in 1675 when the Earl of Shaftesbury fell from power; Locke exiled himself to France to restore his health (Locke, Berkeley, Hume). After four...
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...July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed, uniting the country from its previous undivided state, and cutting the rein from the tyrannical oppression from Great Britain. It marked us as our own sovereign country, and transitioned us into what later would become a world power. Therefore, throughout the Declaration of Independence the philosopher John Locke influenced and shaped important aspects with his principles of natural rights which even encompasses limited government and popular sovereignty. Natural rights are exactly what they say. Rights that an individual is immediately born with and will stay with yourself until you die. The three vague terms found in lines one and two of the declaration of rights. "Endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, and the...
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...Not many political documents have affected the world like The American Declaration of Independence and The French Declaration of The Rights of Man. Both documents, till this point, have had a huge impact all over the world. Without them, the world wouldn’t be what it is today. The philosophical ideas of Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Locke were greatly inspirational on both documents. They were later used by Thomas Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence, and the National Assembly, in the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Both documents can be compared in many ways. Baron de Montesquieu, a political thinker who lived during the Age of Enlightenment, had the concept of Separation of Powers. This was implemented in many constitutions throughout the world and was used in both of the mentioned documents. This theory was used to avoid tyranny and to promote liberty and justice as expressed in both documents. It was set forth to prevent one branch of government from gaining too much power over the other two branches. It basically believes in the right of a man to own private property, which is a function of individual liberty. Another political thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau influenced with his theory of a social contract. The social contract was fundamentally an agreement, entered into by individuals, which resulted in the development of the state or of organized society. The prime purpose was the aspiration for protection, which entails the surrender of some or all personal liberties...
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...Christy Murphy WHO 1030 11:00 – 11:50 Case Study #1 John Locke John Locke was more than just an ordinary man. He was the son of a country attorney and born on August 29, 1632. He grew up during the civil war and later entered the Church of Christ and remained there as a student and teacher for many years. With a wide variety of political and religious views, John expressed most of his personnel views on education, social, political and philosophies. Many of John’s views both political and religious were found to be famous though-out history in many countries. Locke was one of the first people who thought religion and state should be separated. Locke published anonymously the “Two Treaties of Government” and an essay “Concerning Human Understanding.” These writings were immediately successful and both influenced Rousseau and Voltaire along with many other scholars. John Locke’s Two Treatise of Government is a well-known and respected document. In the paper, John attacked the theory of the divine right of kings and maintained that all men are free and equal in the state of nature to posses certain rights. He did not believe that a king should become king because “God told him to,” but rather he was qualified for the position and the people felt he should be there. Locke argued that sovereignty did not reside in the state, but with the people and that, the state is supreme, but only if civil and “natural” law binds it. The task and duty of the government...
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...Philosopher Research - John Locke John Locke was an English political philosopher who was one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers and inspired the world with his ideas about the government and natural rights. He was also known as the “Father of Liberal Philosophy” because of his belief in Liberalism, which is a government whose authority is justified by its respect for human rights. Liberal government must treat individuals with respect, and pass laws that assure people freedom and liberty. He was not a follower for absolutism since he believed that all men are “equal and independent,” so no body should not ever “harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.” Locke expanded the idea that the purpose of government is to protect the natural rights of the citizens. He believed that all men should be given three natural rights such as life, liberty and property, and that people naturally receive these rights simply by being born. Therefore, the role of government was to maintain these rights and if a government fails to preserve these rights, then the people have the right to change their government. Locke’s ideas were spread to the American thinkers when two of the English writers, John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon popularized Locke’s political ideas in a famous series of articles published in London newspapers, and these had the most direct impact on American philosophers. Locke’s influence was most apparent in the Declaration of Independence, the constitutional...
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...John Locke made the most influence on the world compared to Machiavelli. Machiavelli and John Locke both had about the same effect on the world even though they were different ideas. Niccolo Machiavelli had amazing ideas and taking power and politics. Even though Niccolo wrote his book in the 14th century his ideas are used all the time in todays day. Many rulers and politicians use his book as a guide on how to rule. Niccolo wrote the prince because he wanted to show people how ruling shouldn’t be. John Locke did the “Two Treatises of Civil Government”, an essay concerning human understanding, and “The Social Contract.” The “Two Treatises of Civil Government” are essays that showed the ideas of personal government, and democratic nations. The essays laid out a basic outline for our governments today. An essay concerning human understanding laid out a lot of ideas about the country. It talked about how “every man is his equal.”(Locke) “The Social Contract” talked about have an equal relationship between government and the people....
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...After reading both the American Declaration of Independence (US 1776) and the Two Treatises on Government by John Locke, it is clear that Locke had a profound influence on the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. Every major principle from the introduction of the Declaration derived in some form or another from the ideas outlined in Locke’s Treatise. All men are created equal and the fundamental rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness were first expressed by Locke. Also, the concept of the consent of the governed came from Locke as well. These are the two driving principles that lead to the authoring of the Declaration of Independence. The colonies felt that Britain had trampled on those fundamental rights...
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