Combining Texts

Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'The Epistemology of Essence (draft)' and 'Second Treatise of Government'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these texts

display all the ideas for this combination of texts

28 ideas

24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / b. The natural life
19906 All countries are in a mutual state of nature [Locke]
     Full Idea: All commonwealths are in a state of Nature one with another.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 153)
     A reaction: A striking remark. It is easy to think that the state of nature no longer exists. International law attempts to rectify this, but diplomacy is much more like negotiations in nature than it is like obedience to laws.
19882 We are not created for solitude, but are driven into society by our needs [Locke]
     Full Idea: God, having made man such a creature that, in His own judgement, it was not good for him to be alone, put him under strong obligations of necessity, convenience, and inclination, to drive him into society.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 077)
     A reaction: This is almost Aristotelian, apart from the individualistic assumption that we are 'driven' into society. The only time I see other people looking generally happy is when they are sitting around at leisure and talking to other people.
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / a. Natural freedom
19864 In nature men can dispose of possessions and their persons in any way that is possible [Locke]
     Full Idea: The estate all men are naturally in is perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the laws of nature.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 004)
     A reaction: Note that they have possessions, so property is not an invention of society, but something which society should protect. Presumably Locke thinks they could sell themselves into slavery, which Rousseau rejects.
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / b. Natural equality
19865 There is no subjection in nature, and all creatures of the same species are equal [Locke]
     Full Idea: Creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages of Nature, are also equal one among another, without subordination or subjection.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 004)
     A reaction: The birds in my garden don't behave as if that were true. Physical strength is surely a natural inequality.
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / c. Natural rights
19866 The rational law of nature says we are all equal and independent, and should show mutual respect [Locke]
     Full Idea: The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which obliges everyone, and reason, which is that law, teaches mankind that all being equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 006)
     A reaction: He adds that this is because we are all the property of God. Locke is more optimistic than Hobbes or Rousseau about this, since he thinks we have a natural obligation to be nice.
19872 The animals and fruits of the earth belong to mankind [Locke]
     Full Idea: All the fruits the earth naturally produces, and beasts it feeds, belong to mankind in common, as they are produced by the spontaneous hand of Nature.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 026)
     A reaction: Not a popular view among 21st century ecologists, I guess, but this remains the implicit belief of anyone who goes hunting in the woods, and our enclosed gardens seem to endorse the idea.
19907 There is a natural right to inheritance within a family [Locke]
     Full Idea: Every man is born with a right before any other man, to inherit, with his brethren, his father's goods.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 190)
     A reaction: If a child is fully grown, they may well have drifted into a state of partial ownership of the goods of the parent, of which it would be hard then to deprive them. It is hard to see this as a natural right of tiny orphaned infants.
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State
19863 Politics is the right to make enforceable laws to protect property and the state, for the common good [Locke]
     Full Idea: Political power is the right of making laws, with penalties up to death, for the preserving of property, employing the force of community in the execution of such laws, in defence of the commonwealth, and only for the common good.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 003)
     A reaction: Since political power can be used for selfish corruption and genocide, this isn't very accurate, so I take it this is how power ought to be exercised! Notice that defence gets equal billing with his famous defence of property.
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / c. Social contract
5654 The Second Treatise explores the consequences of the contractual view of the state [Locke, by Scruton]
     Full Idea: In his second Treatise, Locke gave us perhaps the first extended account of the true logical consequences of Hobbes's contractual view of the state.
     From: report of John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690]) by Roger Scruton - Short History of Modern Philosophy Ch.14
     A reaction: The issue seems to boil down to an opposition between the Cartesian and the Aristotelian view of the individual, with Locke following Descartes. The alternative, endorsed by Hegel, which I prefer, is that the state is part of human nature.
19888 A society only begins if there is consent of all the individuals to join it [Locke]
     Full Idea: The beginning of politic society depends upon the consent of the individuals to join into and make one society.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 106)
     A reaction: This is the dramatic new political idea (originating with Hobbes), that all of the members must (at some point) consent to the state. In practice we are all born into a state, so it is not clear what this means in real life.
6702 If anyone enjoys the benefits of government (even using a road) they give tacit assent to its laws [Locke]
     Full Idea: Every man, that hath an possession, or enjoyment, of any part of the dominions of any government, doth thereby give his tacit consent, and is obliged to obedience to the laws, ..whether it be barely travelling on the highway.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 119), quoted by Gordon Graham - Eight Theories of Ethics Ch.8
     A reaction: Locke's famous assertion of an unspoken and inescapable contract, to which we are all subject. Hume gave an effective reply (Idea 6703). Locke has a point though. The more you accept, the more obliged you are. I accept the law more as I get older.
19909 A politic society is created from a state of nature by a unanimous agreement [Locke]
     Full Idea: That which makes the community, and brings men out of the loose state of Nature into one politic society, is the agreement that everyone has with the rest to incorporate and act as one body.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 211)
     A reaction: Geography usually keeps commonwealths in place once they have been established, but some of them become disfunctional hell holes because they are trapped in perpetual disagreement.
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / d. General will
19910 A single will creates the legislature, which is duty-bound to preserve that will [Locke]
     Full Idea: The essence and union of the society consisting in having one will; the legislative, when once established by the majority, has the declaring and, as it were, keeping of that will.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 212)
     A reaction: Not far from Rousseau's big idea, apart from the emphasis on the 'majority'. Rousseau reduced the role of the general will to preliminaries and basics, but wanted close to unanimity, so that everyone accepts being a subject, to government and law.
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 4. Citizenship
19893 Anyone who enjoys the benefits of a state has given tacit consent to be part of it [Locke]
     Full Idea: Every man that hath any possession or enjoyment of any part of the dominions of any government doth thereby give his tacit consent, and is as far forth obliged to obedience to the laws of that government, during such enjoyment.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 119)
     A reaction: I wondered at the age of about 18 whether I had given tacit consent to be a British citizen. Locke says you only have to travel freely down the highways to give consent! We are all free, of course, to apply for citizenship elsewhere. But Idea 19894.
19894 You can only become an actual member of a commonwealth by an express promise [Locke]
     Full Idea: Nothing can make any man a subject or member of a commonwealth but his actually entering into it by positive engagement, and express promise and compact.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 122)
     A reaction: In practice the indigenous population never do this. But it a clear distinction for foreign residents in any country. States cannot induct resident foreigners into their army, or allow them to vote.
19892 Children are not born into citizenship of a state [Locke]
     Full Idea: It is plain, by the practices of governments themselves, as well as by the laws of right reason, that a child is born a subject of no country nor government.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 118)
     A reaction: At what age do they become citizens, given that there is no induction ceremony? If a small British child were attacked overseas, we would expect the British government to defend its rights.
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.
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy
19901 The people have supreme power, to depose a legislature which has breached their trust [Locke]
     Full Idea: There remains still in the people a supreme power to remove or alter the legislative, when they find the legislative act contrary to the trust reposed in them.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 149)
     A reaction: This seems to be the most important aspect of representative democracy. It is not the power of people to make decisions, but the power to get rid of bad rulers.
19887 Unanimous consent makes a united community, which is then ruled by the majority [Locke]
     Full Idea: When any number of men have, by the consent of every individual, made a community, they have thereby made that community into one body, with a power to act as one body, which is only by the will and determination of the majority.
     From: John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 096)
     A reaction: This seems to be presume democracy without discussion, although the formation of the community is by universal consent, which is the 'general will'. Rousseau has the constitution also made almost unanimously, not by a majority.