...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 no surprised considering that Ashley was one of England’s most skilled politicians. While in London, Locke took a job in Government researching the relationship between trade possibilities and colonization. He worked closely with early settlers who left for the New World, helping with the drafting of the Fundamental Constitution. The principal writings by John Locke that are influential to the...
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...Decoding this letter, helped him make a fortune. For a couple months, he would help the British government decode secret messages during the civil war in Britain. Since he helped the British government during the civil war, they let him be in charge of the St. Gabriel Church in the year 1643. Also, his mother died in 1643. John Wallis inherited the house in Kent when his mother died. A year later in 1644, he became a secretary for a clergy in Westminster. By doing this job, he was able to become a fellowship at the Queen's College in Cambridge. However, he had to give up this fellowship in March 1645. This is because on March 14, 1645, he married Susanna Glyde, and you are not allowed to be a fellowship if you are married. After this, John Wallis returned to London and created the Royal Society, which was full of scientists that talked about nature and environmental science. After the Royal Society, he was then appointed to the Savilian Chair of Geometry at Oxford. In 1655, he wrote a treatise. In the treatise, he wrote about curves and second degree curves. A year later in 1656, he wrote another treatise called the Arithmetica Infinitorum. This treatise was the most important work of his life. In the treatise, it features a lot of significant contributions to math. The first contribution to math in the Arithmetica Infinitorum, was the Law of Indices. In...
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...Assignment ON Comparison and Contrast Between Two Political Thinkers: Thomas Hobbes and John Locke Abstract The Social Contract theory which dominated the European political thought in the eighteen century has played a very important part in the development of the modern political theory and practice. Being the most important of all the speculative theories, it came into being as a result of reaction against the theory of the Divine Origin. This theory was the first to denounce the influence of the church in the state affairs, provided an explanation for the origin of the state and shows the relationship between those who governs and those who are governed. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke are the chief exponents of the Contract Theory. Both of them have established their thesis from the beginning of human habitation, though their ideas and opinions are quite distinct. Hobbes in his theory has only described one contract where Locke has described two. Thomas Hobbes’ “Leviathan” and John Locke’s “Two Treaties on Civil Government” these books are considered as bibles in the evolution of modern states system. Though there are criticisms and debates regarding the social contract theory, but the modern political theories today have evolved from these contract theories which has no doubt. The aim of this assignment is to compare and contrast between Thomas Hobbes and John Locke and explore their contribution in the development of international relations according to the analysis...
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...the Glorious Revolution, England’s Parliament and Crown had rocky patches. Power was split unevenly between the monarch and the parliament. The Parliament had two houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Lords were the clergy and the nobles and the Commons were everyone else. Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth Instrument of Government, John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government, and the English Bill of Rights all have something to do on why England’s Parliament and Monarch work so well today. Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth Instrument of Government Cromwell’s Commonwealth Instrument of Government was a written constitution that Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector had written when he assumed office. It was a document that gave him executive power and gave the Parliament legislative power. By holding the executive power, Cromwell was able to deploy the military by both land and sea with the consent of the Parliament as well as the ability of being able to correspond with foreign royalty. In the Instrument of Government, the Lord Protector also states that the set laws “shall not be altered, suspended, abrogated, or repealed”....
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...a military captain with powers that got Locke a great education. He was elected one of the members of the Royal Society. He has written many works like “Two Treatises of Government” and “Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina.” He has influenced many things in today’s world like constitutional law. John Locke was born August 29, 1632, in Wrington, England. Locke’s father was a lawyer and was a captain of the military in the English Civil War. Locke had a great education because his father had connection to the government. Locke was honored with the King’s Scholar at Westminster School in London. This award went only to a select number of students and helped...
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...began to apply concepts of reason to all functions of society. Politics and the role of government had a major impact on theorists like Hobbes and Locke. In this paper, I will focus on what is the difference between Hobbes and Locke in regards to the role of government? And why are their theories important to today’s government? To respond, I will be arguing that Hobbes and Locke have two completely different views on how governments should be run; Hobbes focuses on authoritarian regime and Locke’ main idea is there should be a civil society. To answer the latter, I will analyze Hobbes’s theory of government with today’s government and I will also analyze Locke’s Theory of government with today’s government. Thomas Hobbes believed in a form of government in which people were controlled by an absolute ruler (Leviathan). For Hobbes, he believed that all human beings were naturally selfish and cruel; he believed that the State of Nature is short, poor and disorderly (Lecture). People in the State of Nature pursue their self-interests (material gain and personal safety), and this will lead to human beings to make enemies and create conflict (Lecture). Therefore, without government there will be no control over humans and life would be disorganised. In his eyes, a ruler is necessary for a state to thrive and flourish, without a leader, society would be chaotic (Leviathan). In this type of government, people would need to hand over their social contracts and their rights to a ruler....
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...He was the author of the Two Treatises of Government. The ideas throughout these were written as a critique of England’s current form of government at that time. The First Treatise was more of an assessment of another philosopher during that time, Robert Filmer. Filmer believed that each man was naturally born a slave to those with absolute authority; for example, Adam, as in Adam and Eve, had absolute control over not only his children, but all of the children who came from those who succeeded Adam as well. This is because Adam’s power and control was appointed from God, who was the absolute king in this situation. Locke disagreed with this theory stating instead that every man had the ability to govern himself. A king does not have absolute power as those powers are limited by the rights given to the individuals. The Second Treatise, then, began the critiquing of government. Locke argues that sovereignty is placed into the hands of the people. People are said to be equal and invested with natural rights. In his “state of nature,” natural law governs the behavior of the citizens and each person has the right to execute that law against someone who infringes on their rights. Locke’s model consists ultimately of a civil state that is based upon the natural rights common to a people who welcome power to protect their property and liberty. If a government ceases to function for the people’s benefit or in their best interest,...
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...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 of any state was to protect mans rights. Locke believed that the government should protect human rights better than individuals could on their own and if the government did not adequately protect...
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...Locke vs. Thomas Jefferson” John Locke's Second Treatise of Government and Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence are two of the most significant texts of all time. Many countries around the world have used these texts as the foundation for their declaration of independence. These authors laid the base for the knowledge of the State of Natural Rights of human being which is the establishing bases of our government. We can understand that The Second Treatise of Government and the Declaration of Independence are very identical in their message, which clearly substantiate Locke's work influenced Jefferson. Unpredictably as it is, Jefferson has been suspect over the times for plagiarizing John Locke. The most significant similarity between both writings is that they are strongly focused on the belief that all men are created equal and have the right to be happy in their life. Locke enlightens us that humans have natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of property. Jefferson restates this claim as absolute rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Simply both documents mention that no person is above or superior to another person and that everyone is equal. The natural law of man is not under the authority of man, but ruled by the Natural Laws. Also they state that those natural rights...
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...state of perfect freedom. Locke believed that all men are naturally equal and have the capabilities to govern themselves based off what the people deem fit. John states in his second treatise on civil government in 1690 “... (W)e must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature…” (Document A). John Locke is evoking the idea that there are laws of nature which give every human equality and their own rights to govern themselves. John Locke also believed that people are at liberty to create a new government when time comes for the dissolution of a failed government. In a Treatise on Civil Government written in 1690, Locke states “... (W)hen the government is dissolved, the people are at liberty to provide for themselves, by erecting a new legislative,... for the society can never,... lose the native and original right it has to preserve itself, which can only be done by a settled legislative, and a fair and impartial execution of the laws made by it. ” (document A). This supports the earlier claim that John Locke believes people can govern themselves if given the freedom they are not born...
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...relatively equal and fight for scare resources (Wolff 2006). Therefore, from theses assumption of equality, scarcity and uncertainty, Hobbes theorized the creation of a state, which could ensure peace and security by commanding people (M.Rosen and J.Wolff 1999). That is why the social contract should be a “contract of submission”, which means that the only way to maintain the security is to completely submit to a sovereign authority. This contract is characterised by two fundamental features, which are a complete submission and an absolute power (J.Hampton 2013). Hobbes argues, only a powerful sovereign can maintain social stability: “Without the sword, contracts are only words" (Leviathan 1651). The result of this contract, citizens must give up their individual power right and sovereignty in the hands of a leader who is committed to establish a safety and stability in the society (D.Boucher and P.Kelly 2012). In the same period, Locke outlines a different version of social contract theory in the «Treatise on Civil Government». According to Locke, men have natural rights, which are right to...
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...Yaw Ankobiah Essay Assignment 4/17/15 POLS 251 Professor Clarke Word Count: 1,597 The Ideals of Commerce of Aristotle vs. John Locke Aristotle and John Locke are two of the more prominent philosophers of their respective time periods when historically analyzing political philosophy. Each philosopher has many written sources of their beliefs and ideals, many of which go against the ‘norms’ of the societies of their time period. Second Treatise of Government, by John Locke, and Aristotle’s Politics, written by Aristotle, both outline each philosopher’s ideal political regime in which each political system described is tailored to each individual’s self-thinking. Past experiences as well as prior knowledge is used by both Aristotle and Locke to formulate their political regimes. When comparing the two previously mentioned books and analyzing the regimes proposed by both novels it is evident that both Aristotle and Locke differed in their respective evaluation of commercial or economic life. The biggest point of difference between the two had to do with humanity as Aristotle believed acquisition of necessities to be a natural process whereas Locke believed the onus was on human beings to go out and acquire which would naturally bring about commerce into existence. This essay will examine the reasons why they differed in this aspect of politics with further detail provided as well. When highlighting these reasons it will be very clear as to why their ideas of economic and commercial...
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...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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...John Locke - Biography John Locke (1632-1704) John Locke was born on August 29, 1632, in Warington, a village in Somerset, England. In 1646 he went to Westminster school, and in 1652 to Christ Church in Oxford. In 1659 he was elected to a senior studentship, and tutored at the college for a number of years. Still, contrary to the curriculum, he complained that he would rather be studying Descartes than Aristotle. In 1666 he declined an offer of preferment, although he thought at one time of taking up clerical work. In 1668 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1674 he finally graduated as a bachelor of medicine. In 1675 he was appointed to a medical studentship at the college. He owned a home in Oxford until 1684, until his studentship was taken from him by royal mandate. Locke's mentor was Robert Boyle, the leader of the Oxford scientific group. Boyle's mechanical philosophy saw the world as reducible to matter in motion. Locke learned about atomism and took the terms "primary and secondary qualities" from Boyle. Both Boyle and Locke, along with Newton, were members of the English Royal Society. Locke became friends with Newton in 1688 after he had studied Newton's Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis. It was Locke's work with the Oxford scientists that gave him a critical perspective when reading Descartes. Locke admired Descartes as an alternative to the Aristotelianism dominant at Oxford. Descartes' "way of ideas" was a major influence on Locke's...
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...The Enlightenment Period was a very important time. This period was in the 16th and 17th century. During this time philosophes were the people who thought that they could find new ways and discover things about life. There are 4 people who all had much to say and new ideas so helped out with the “Age of Reason”. The main idea that the philosophers were going for was government, religion and Social equality. Document A was where John Locke stated his opinion about the government. His main idea was freedom and liberty. In 1690 he wrote his Second Treatise on Civil Government. He wrote this 86 years before the American Declaration of Independence. Many things occurred during Locke’s life that could’ve influenced him or struck an idea about his opinion and writings about the government. The English Civil War and Glorious Revolution. Locke says basically humans should also be equal. If the old government fails Locke believes the people have a right to create a new government. The legislative and executive are the two branches that Locke recommended. Document B was where Voltaire wrote about Religion. Locke and Voltaire had the same main idea in common which was freedom and liberty. Trading occurred at the Royal Exchange in London. Voltaire believes that its good that England allows a multitude of religions because of violence, arbitrary and everyone getting along. His main idea about religion in society is tolerance of religious differences. Document D was where it spoke...
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