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Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'The Problem of the Soul' and 'Second Treatise of Government'

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10 ideas

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy

19885	Absolute monarchy is inconsistent with civil society [Locke]
	Full Idea: Absolute monarchy, which by some men is counted for the only government in the world, is inconsistent with civil society, and so can be no form of civil government at all.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 090)
	A reaction: This is because citizens do not have a 'decisive' power to appeal for redress of injuries. Rousseau thought that there could be an absolute monarchy, as long as the general will agreed it, and its term of office could be brought to an end by the assembly.

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / c. Despotism

19886	The idea that absolute power improves mankind is confuted by history [Locke]
	Full Idea: He that thinks absolute power purifies men's blood, and corrects the baseness of human nature, need but read the history of this, or any other age, to be convinced to the contrary.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 092)
	A reaction: I can't imagine who proposed the view that Locke is attacking, but it will have been some real 17th century thinker. Attitudes to monarchy changed drastically in England, but Louis XIV was still ruling in France.

19903	Despotism is arbitrary power to kill, based neither on natural equality, nor any social contract [Locke]
	Full Idea: Despotical power is an absolute, arbitrary power one man over another, to take away his life whenever he pleases; and this is a power which neither Nature gives, for it has made no such distinction between one man and another, nor compact can convey.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 172)
	A reaction: Colonies of seals, walruses and apes seem to display despotism, based on physical strength, though that is largely to do with mating. There could be such a compact, but Locke would regard it as invalid.

19905	People stripped of their property are legitimately subject to despotism [Locke]
	Full Idea: Forfeiture gives despotical power to lords for their own benefit over those who are stripped of all property. ...Despotical power is over such as have no property at all.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 173)
	A reaction: Nasty! Shylock is stripped of his property by Venice, so these things happened. This is taking the significance of property a long way beyond its role at the beginning of Locke's book. Property is the start of society, but then becomes your passport.

19904	Legitimate prisoners of war are subject to despotism, because that continues the state of war [Locke]
	Full Idea: Captives, taken in a just and lawful war, and such only, are subject to a despotical power, which, as it arises not from compact, so neither is it capable of any, but is the state of war continued.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 205)
	A reaction: How long after a war finishes is such despotism legitimate? What happened to the German prisoners in Russia in 1945? Locke defined despotism as the right to kill, but that is expressly contrary to the rules of war, look you.

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / b. Legislature

19895	Even the legislature must be preceded by a law which gives it power to make laws [Locke]
	Full Idea: The first and fundamental positive law of all commonwealths is the establishing of the legislative power, as the first and fundamental natural law which is to govern even the legislative.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 134)
	A reaction: I think Rousseau says that there cannot be a law which enables the general will to set up legislative powers. It just seems to be something which happens. Locke is threatened with an infinite regress. What legitimises the enabling law?

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / c. Executive

19900	The executive must not be the legislature, or they may exempt themselves from laws [Locke]
	Full Idea: It may be too great temptation to human frailty, apt to grasp at power, for the same persons to have the power of making laws to also have in their hands the power to execute them, whereby they may exempt themselves.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 143)
	A reaction: The main principles of modern constitutions are devised to avoid corruption. If people were incorruptible (yeah, right) the world would presumably be run very differently, and rather more efficiently, like a good family.

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 4. Changing the State / c. Revolution

19902	Any obstruction to the operation of the legislature can be removed forcibly by the people [Locke]
	Full Idea: Having erect a legislative with the power of making laws, when they are hindered by any force from what is so necessary to society, and wherein the safety and preservation of the people consists, the people have a right to remove it by force.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 155)
	A reaction: I doubt if he was thinking of the French Revolution, but this will clearly have application to the English events of 1642. The Speaker of the Commons was held down in his chair in the 1620s, so that some legislation could be enacted.

19908	Rebelling against an illegitimate power is no sin [Locke]
	Full Idea: It is plain that shaking off a power which force, and not right, hath set over any one, though it have the name of rebellion, yet it is no offence against God.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 196)
	A reaction: [He cites Hezekiah at 2 Kings 18.7] At this time the English Civil War was referred to as the 'Great Rebellion' (so this is an interesting and brave remark of Locke's), though few people would think that Charles I had illegitimate power.

19911	If legislators confiscate property, or enslave people, they are no longer owed obedience [Locke]
	Full Idea: Whenever the legislators endeavour to take away and destroy the property of the people, or reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.
	From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 222)
	A reaction: This might fit Louis XVI in 1788. Locke was certainly not averse to consideration the situations in which revolution might be justified. He was trying to be even-handed about 1642. Locke seems to think that without property you ARE a slave.