19882
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We are not created for solitude, but are driven into society by our needs [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 077)
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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.
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19866
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The rational law of nature says we are all equal and independent, and should show mutual respect [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 006)
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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.
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19863
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Politics is the right to make enforceable laws to protect property and the state, for the common good [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 003)
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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.
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5654
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The Second Treatise explores the consequences of the contractual view of the state [Locke, by Scruton]
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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.
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From:
report of John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690]) by Roger Scruton - Short History of Modern Philosophy Ch.14
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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.
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6702
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If anyone enjoys the benefits of government (even using a road) they give tacit assent to its laws [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 119), quoted by Gordon Graham - Eight Theories of Ethics Ch.8
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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.
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19910
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A single will creates the legislature, which is duty-bound to preserve that will [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 212)
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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.
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19886
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The idea that absolute power improves mankind is confuted by history [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 092)
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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.
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19903
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Despotism is arbitrary power to kill, based neither on natural equality, nor any social contract [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 172)
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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.
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19904
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Legitimate prisoners of war are subject to despotism, because that continues the state of war [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 205)
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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.
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19900
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The executive must not be the legislature, or they may exempt themselves from laws [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 143)
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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.
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19902
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Any obstruction to the operation of the legislature can be removed forcibly by the people [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 155)
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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.
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19911
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If legislators confiscate property, or enslave people, they are no longer owed obedience [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 222)
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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.
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19887
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Unanimous consent makes a united community, which is then ruled by the majority [Locke]
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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.
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From:
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 096)
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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.
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