...JOHN LOCKE Summary The First Treatise is a criticism of Robert Filmer’s Patriarcha, which argues in support of the divine right of kings. According to Locke, Filmer cannot be correct because his theory holds that every man is born a slave to the natural born kings. Locke refuses to accept such a theory because of his belief in reason and in the ability of every man to virtuously govern himself according to God’s law. The Second Treatise is Locke’s proposed solution to the political upheaval in England and in other modern countries. This text laid the foundation for modern forms of democracy and for the Constitution of the United States. The Second Treatise consists of a short preface and nineteen chapters. In chapter i, Locke defines political power as the right to make laws for the protection and regulation of property. In his view, these laws only work because the people accept them and because they are for the public good. In chapter ii, Locke claims that all men are originally in a state of nature. A man in this original state is bound by the laws of nature, but he is otherwise able to live, act, and dispose of his possessions as he sees fit. More important, human beings, free from the arbitrary laws of other men, have an obligation to protect the interests of each other, since they are all equally children of God. They also have an obligation to punish those who go against God’s will and attempt to harm another by compromising his life, liberty, or possessions. In chapters...
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...assessment is fair, it is clear that Spinoza’s thinking was nourished through his association with Van Den Enden and the larger radical Cartesian circle in Amsterdam. How can we verify the real possibility of a constitutive praises? Spinoza adversaries (both on the protest anti side and on the catholic side) maintain that the political problem in Spinoza is central and that it’s the substance of the religious problem. Naturally, they have a negative opinion of this inversion. “ you refer all things to public safety. Which is the something as reducing a detailed discussion that perhaps first time in the course of their extensive correspondence assumes polemical tones, sustains this negative judgment. I finally receive the theological–political treatise, he inform Spinoza in 1675, and I have written you about. Oldenburg is initially very perplexed by the...
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...rules based on moral law derived from reason. Nagel draws heavily upon the constricting nature of the deontological system, operating under “personal demands governing one’s relations with others” rather than “impersonal claims derived from the interest of others” (Nagel, “Ethics” in The View From Nowhere, 1986, Page 176). This form of thinking challenges Hume by creating boundaries by which moral laws should be followed and displace human impulses “which opposes our passion” (Hume, “A Treatise of Human Nature,”1896, Page 217). This allows moral choices to be made as an object of “common moral intuition” (Nagel, “Ethics” in The View...
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...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 of their works. Introduction Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan and John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government are sometimes seen as the two greatest works of political philosophy in the English language. Liberalism asks, “Given a large number of individuals with roughly equal power, what institutions and policies allow them to attain the common good?” The basic institutional decisions are made via...
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...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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...In Chapter 1, Locke first reiterates his arguments from the First Treatise against Sir Robert Filmer's writings. His points refute Filmer as follows: Adam was NOT given absolute authority over the world and his children by God Adam's heirs, therefore, did not have this authority No one can claim rights since it is impossible to identify Adam's heirs today. Locke aimed to refute Filmer's theory of the divine right of sovereignty. Locke finishes the chapter by noting that one must not confuse different types of power--paternal, familial, and political--for each has very different characteristics. He defines political power as the right to make laws for the protection and regulation of property; these laws are backed by the community, for the public good. Locke addresses the natural instincts of people, or the state of nature, in order to define political power. In Chapter 2, Locke explains the state of nature as a state of equality in which no one has power over another, and all are free to do as they please. He notes, however, that this liberty does not equal license to abuse others, and that natural law exists even in the state of nature. Each individual in the state of nature has the power to execute natural laws, which are universal. Locke then posits that proof of this natural law lies in the fact that, even though a person cannot reasonably be under the power of a foreign king, if a person commits a crime in a foreign country they can still be punished. Locke...
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...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. Hobbes believes people are rational, therefore people would realize that their natural habits would lead them to conflict and a “State of War” (Leviathan). When people use reason, people will figure out that if they gave up their own self-interests, other people will to, this is the reason why citizens...
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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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...Tracye Taylor History 102 January 13, 2008 Candide Essay Assignment Candide, published in 1759 by Frances Voltaire, sketches a portrait of the human condition from Voltaire’s standpoint during the Age of Enlightenment. As a work of historical literature, Candide is not on the same level as a law, treatise or constitution. Laws and constitutions refer to principles and practices that are binding by a controlling authority; a treatise is more formal and systematic in writing, as in Voltaire: A Treatise on Toleration (1763). This novel is analogous to a personal letter in that it expresses to the reader Voltaire’s personal opposition to certain 18th century Enlightenment ideas. Candide is a fascinating work of fiction; however, the ideals and concepts, as well as the various struggles that Candide endures are very real regarding nobility, philosophy, the church, and cruelty which took place in Early Modern Europe. Candide is the main character of the novel. He is described in the beginning as being “endowed by nature with the gentlest of characters”. He is a naive and innocent young man who places his faith in the teachings of his tutor Dr. Pangloss. Candide believes the doctor’s conviction that “all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds”. During the course of the story, Candide is cast out into the world and endures a seemingly endless series of encounters with cruelty, hypocrisy, ignorance, and brutality. These encounters eventually reshape...
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...THE TWO TREATISES OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT The introduction of the work was written latter and until this century gave people the impression that the book was written in 1688 to justify the Glorious Revolution. We now know that the Two Treatises of Civil Government were written during the Exclusion crisis and were probably intended to justify the general armed rising which the Country Party leaders were planning. It was a truly revolutionary work. Supposing that the Two Treatises may have been intended to explain and defend the revolutionary plot against Charles II and his brother, how does it do this? What do reflections on the state of nature and the state of war have to do with distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate civil government? The First Treatise of Civil Government is a polemical work aimed at refuting the patriarchal version of the Divine Right of Kings doctrine put forth by Sir Robert Filmer. :Locke singles out Filmer's contention that men are not "naturally fre e" as the key issue, for that is the "ground" or premise on which Filmer erects his argument for the claim that all "legitimate" government is "absolute monarchy." -- kings being descended from the first man Adam. Early in the First Treatise Lo cke denies that either scripture or reason supports Filmer's premise or arguments. In what follows, Locke minutely examines key Biblical passages - so Locke's emphasis in the First Treatise is on refuting Filmer's scriptural claims for the divin e right...
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...John Locke was a Philosopher that was born in 1632. He was the son of 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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...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 life did not parallel each other. Aristotle was a student in...
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...Enlightened Literature on Human Nature The Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment, was a movement in which the power of reason was employed to rethink and reform society as a whole as well as various other concepts of human existence. During that time period (about 1650-1800), numerous thinkers such as John Locke, Isaac Newton and Voltaire exercised reason to challenge the basis of their society, which was built on the premise of an Almighty God. Prior to the Enlightenment, the answer to countless questions was only known to God and God alone; however, with the deterioration of this presumption, man was left to discover everything he once believed to be incomprehensible. These noble men questioned religion, science, mathematics and eventually came to question how men should be governed, how money and economics should function and how the human race should operate. The examination of mankind led to many varying philosophies that depicted men as wild, blood-thirsty beasts of passion or sensible, upright creatures, creating juxtaposition. Many forms of writing were directly influenced by the social and philosophical measures this time period contained. Articulated in the literature was man’s questioning of every idea that was once certain, promoting the desire to examine human nature. The influx of knowledge and reason combine with the rebuttal against the idea of an omniscient deity heavily influenced Enlightenment literature. With the invention of the printing press...
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...was employment as librarian of the Advocate’s Library in Edinburgh * n 1763, Hume accepted as a private secretary for Lord Hertford, the Ambassador to France, * He thought this science should be based on “experience and observation”. (Spiegel 206) * Between (1744-1745), Hume was a candidate for the Chair of Moral Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, but was rejected mostly due to the protest concerning his anti-religious writings * He wrote profoundly influential works on epistemology, ethics, and the philosophy of religion, and was also published on politics, economics and history. * Hume also spent considerable time in his final years revising his works for new editions of his Essays and Treatises, Works * A Treatise of Human Nature in (1739) * Being an Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects. During his of private study he published before when he was thirty. * "Of the Understanding" His treatment of everything from the origin...
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...In this paper I will argue when is acceptable or not to kill an animal in John Locke’s point of view. In the Second Treatise of Government, John Locke explores and uses the “state of nature” that describes a natural condition of mankind, is a state of equality in which no one has power over another, and all are free to do as they please. For Locke the starting point of a state nature finds humans with the same sort of liberty, natural rights which God given. Locke starts talking about the three laws of nature, harm no one, preserve all, and destroy dangers. In the first law, talks about the idea we have of ourselves, how all mankind is equal to each other. God gave everything to mankind in common, such an arrangement could only benefit humankind individuals could use those resources to benefit themselves. God has given the land to the mankind to assure everyone a private property. Since animals could be useful to...
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