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| "Government with the consent of the governed" |
Discuss John Locke’s main concepts and how his fundamental ideals is still present in today’s society.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Importance of the Enlightenment
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John locke thought it was best not to have any rules because rules gave power to one man and not the other and thought that this made men behave in violent ways. He thought that Natural Rights and Natural Law was the way the country should be ran. This is one of John locke's qoutes that i find interesting and that bring up the good and evil of man.
ReplyDelete"Good and evil, reward and punishment, are the only motives to a rational creature: these are the spur and reins whereby all mankind are set on work, and guided." (Locke.)
The many beliefs and ideals of John Locke are still present in our modern society. Our government as well as some of our morals were born from him and are still taken seriously by many people. Locke believed that the common people should be able to choose how they wanted to be governed, that all men (and women :P) in the world are equal, and that they are rightly entitled with the joys of life, such as freedom, happiness, liberty, etc. He believes that one man should not have total power over many people because he is likely to do something that does not hold the interest of the people. Here's an excellent quote to explain this.
ReplyDelete"All men are liable to error; and most men are, in many points, by passion or interest, under temptation to it." (Locke)
Locke believed, first of all, that human nature characterized by reason and tolerance plus allowed man to be selfish. Everyone was equal and independent and had a natural right to defend his "Life, Liberty, and Possessions." That quote was the basis for the phrase in American "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
ReplyDeleteHe assumed that the sole right to defend in the state of nature should be in the people trying to "resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government in a state of society," instead of just one person trying to handle everyone. He also believed that there should be a separation of powers among the government.
Well the main fundamental that I see is the Checks and Balances in the high government. For example, if Congress passes a bill, the President can veto it and the bill goes back to Congress. Another example is the President nominates justices for the US Supreme Court and the Supreme Court can declare presidential acts unconstitutional.
He also believed that People were the source of government, and that if a government wasnt being run rite the people had the ability to overthrow it
ReplyDeleteI think John Locke was the one of the smartest philosopher relating to government to me because I think his ideas about society and people makes sense. The idea that people are good and society corrupted them makes sense and I have seen it first hand. A family member of mine was at one time a great individual but society had a negative influence on him and changed life in a very negative way. Who were some of John Locke's inspirations.
ReplyDeleteJohn Locke believed that everyone was born with a natural sense for human rights. We all have the natural ability to claim life, liberty, and property, which were some of the phrases written in the Constitution. Humans are capable of governing themselves unless these rights are taken away. If these rights are not conserved adequately, citizens cannot move forward with living in a peaceful environment. He also believed that government shold not meddle with religion. Some of these beliefs are still present, which one of the obvious is church and state do not go hand in hand in the U.S. government.
ReplyDeleteI think John Locke was the one of the smartest philosopher relating to government to me because I think his ideas about society and people makes sense. The idea that people are good and society corrupted them makes sense and I have seen it first hand. A family member of mine was at one time a great individual but society had a negative influence on him and changed life in a very negative way. Who were some of John Locke's inspirations
ReplyDeleteJeffrey Silva PER: 4
i didnt know that john locke influenced thomas jefferson! i guess you learn something new everyday :)
ReplyDelete-TOT
John Locke believed knowledge came through experience. You are born with a clean blank slate, nothing at all and over time gather information through your life and the challenges you overcome and experience which will differ with people due to you don not live the same life as one anoher. Since we cannot experience everything the world has to offer for us, our knowledge and brain can only gather so much and then you reach a limit where no more can be learned.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you state your name!
ReplyDeleteI think that John Locke has influenced our government because he believed that everyone is entitled to their rights. He felt that it was ok for others to do as they pleased as long as it followed the law. I feel like this gave society free will, which let them live life for themselves and not for the king, or the person in charge.
ReplyDeleteJohn Locke helped to draft the Declaration of Independance and he also influenced the American Revolution. He defended Christian beliefs and he believed that all humans have the right too life, liberty and freedom.
ReplyDeleteAshley Gutierrez
ReplyDeletePer.03
John Lock believed that people should have control over the government,that if we didn't like the government we could overthrow it.He also believed in Life,Liberty,and right of property.He also believed in natural rights,and that those rights can't be taken away by anybody because we are born with them.
In my theory, his thoughts of having the gov. empowered by the people is due to a contract BY the people. And his fundamental ideals is present to the taxes, laws, and regulations. :]
ReplyDeletelocke also believed that all humas had rights that the government couldnt take away, he named them as life, liberty, and property. I think that his ideas have helped us how to have the right type of government...
ReplyDeleteJose, how do you see Locke in present day? Stenny, should taxes be paid by all and should some people pay more than others?
ReplyDeletePeople! I know what Locke believed tell me your opinion! How do you see what Locke's theory is seen in today's society?
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting because of he states that we don't "natural" right nor do we have "permanently fixed" rights. We are naturally good and pure people as human beings, but society is impure and is essentially going to get the best of all of us. He also believed that all men will have the natural incentive to be selfish or "greedy". As money, property, and other types of currency have come along, this has been expressed to an even greater extreme. He also believes "Life, Liberty, and Possessions", are all our and we have a right to defend them. I see easily now why Locke, was one of the founding fathers of our government and how it has been led to function nowadays.
ReplyDelete- Austin Zimmerman Per. 4
John Locke spoke out for freedom of thought, speech and religion. the natural righs he spoke of were of life liberty and property. Property to be one of the most imortant natural rights. because it is "inalienable" and can never be taken away. nor can life or liberty. But property was imortant because owners were allowed to do whatever they wanted with their property as long as it didnt invade the rights or ways of others. That would go the same for life and liberty.or so i belive that is what he meant.
ReplyDelete-savannah prickett :) 3rd period
John Locke's philosophy "No government without consent of the governed" and equality of men are taken for granted in today’s society. However, his philosophical views were in the minority and quite radical in the 16th century, when the world was ruled by emperors, dictators, kings, queens and unitolitarian style governments. His concern that absolute power corrupts has been proven to be true over and over again (Idi Amin, Hitler, Mussolini and King David and the story of Bathsheba).
ReplyDeleteJazmyne Wright
period 3
Main concepts were for us to be independent andnot let someone take rules, and become over powerful. He wanted that sort of kaos out. Today we live independentaly, becoming whoever we want or like to become in our futures. So that liberty is with us today.
ReplyDelete