From your readings and discussion about Locke and the Age of Reason, explain what you think is the thesis of Locke's writing and how his thesis applies to American ideals. You may choose to write on modern American ideals or others we have studied.
From your readings and discussion about Locke and the Age of Reason, explain what you think is the thesis of Locke's writing and how his thesis applies to American ideals. You may choose to write on modern American ideals or others we have studied.
Brett St. John Otober 21, 2007
From John Locke's work was extremly influential. The golden rule of the law of nature is all the natural rights that every person has a right to. Locke stressed the inportance of government, because all people are bad and anarchy would surely cause a revolution of the wrong sort. Locke believed that human nature was based off of reason and tolerance. Which allowed people to be selfish, Locke believed that no one had the right to take or jepordise someones life, health, liberty or possessions. Locke also had many views about money and exchange, he belived that revolution is not only needed but a right. His views on checks and balences influenced the declaration of independence and the Constitution.
Locke's philosophy was one that is especially evident in American doctrine. His belief is that the government is evil and unfair for the general community. However, it is a necessary evil for each community to have government because men are inherently bad and selfish; therefore an anarchical system could not be effective. Men cannot be trusted not to infringe and endanger the rights of other men and must therefore be monitored by the government. It is the job of the government to protect the rights and liberties of men, not to limit them. This ideology is clear in American life through the Declaration of Independence. Specifically the line, “That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.” Locke’s further work also examines supply and demand theory which dictates the American economy.
Locke's philosophical ideas on government played an influencial role in the creation of the US as we know it. His thoughts on government are clearly evident in our own American Revolution. Lock believed that a government is only there to supply laws and to govern those laws for the protection and overall happiness of its people. He also thought that government was a nescessary evil in order to control corruption amongst humans. The American Revolution took heavily from these ideas. Britain was controlling the aspects of colonial life for its own personal benefit. Colonists used the philosophies of Locke to justify revolting against their mother country. Lockes thesis implies that there is no way for humans to exist without corruption. While there may be those who could do it on their own, it is impossible for a society. There will always be people who are corrupt. This is where government intervenes. Government is there to create laws to punish and control the corruption. It is in place to protect the good and help to maintain a happy lifestyle.
Reid Keener English 11-1 Locke ‘Age of Reason’ Response Based on what we have read from Locke, and what his contributions to the Age of Reason were, I have formulated a thesis of what his beliefs were. Government is a necessary evil that both protects the natural rights of individuals by inhibiting their freedom of action. As Alice said earlier, Locke believed that at their very core, all people are essentially evil. In order to keep civilization from descending into chaos, a government will keep corrupting forces in check. This idea is one of foundations of our American Government. When this country was created, it was basically an experiment to see how much freedom could be given to the people while still maintaining order. This experiment was so effective, that our system of government has been exported to nations all over the globe, along with the ideals of Locke. In the future, this will most certainly be seen as the greatest of America’s legacies. Locke also gave us the important ideas of natural rights, state of nature, and ‘tabula rasa*’; all central to the principles of the American Revolution and the government thereafter. *Government with the consent of the Governed
k. wulftange Locke's philosophy in the Age of Reason outlined the pro's and con's of a government in a community. His idea that government could be necessary was defined by the fact that the world was full of cruel and evil people that would make the world chaotic if it was lawful to do so. Locke explained that government should be there in order for the citizens to remain happy and safe. This implied the necessity of "natural rights" which are the rights that one is born with and that all can enjoy. Locke's thesis depended on the idea that government was only in the country to keep people content and to rule out as much evil as possible. Besides the emphasis on the importance of government, Locke seemed to take a very anarchist stance on the idea of how government officials should influence the community. He believed that listening to someone over you was not something anyone wanted to do, therefore government was only necessary because to keep people in check, the evil people did have to be ordered around and served a consequense. Locke's thesis that debated between the good and bad of government proves that he was a man of all government parties, and used ideas from several to come up with a philosphy to benefit each citizen as best as it could during the Revolution.
Locke believed that human nature was characterized by reason and tolerance and believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish. Naturally, all people were equal and independent and non had a right to harm another's life, health, liberty and possessions. He advocated governmental checks and balances and believed that revolution was a right and obligation. These ideas had an influence on the ideas of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He believed that government was evil and unfair because people that are given too much power are corrupt.Lock believed that a government is only there to supply laws and to govern those laws for the protection and overall happiness of its people. But he believed that the people should be given many more rights than laws. During the Revolution, the colonists used Locke's ideas to revolt against their Britain. He believed the sole responsibility of the government is to create laws to punish and control corruption.
John Locke was very focused on the idea of liberalism and how all people people were equal and independent, and none had a right to harm another’s “life, health, liberty, or possessions. He thought that human nature was characterized by rattional and acceptance, and that people could coexist peacefully without a government as long as they stayed within the bounds of Natural Laws. Mostly Locke's ideas and how they helped form this country have been lost through time as laws become stricter and the government controls more and more of our lives. However, the fundamental idea of Locke's thesis, freedom, has been carried through the centuries. For the most part, people are free to do what they want as long as it doesn't infringe on the safety or property of another person.
Also, Locke supported the ideas of Checks and Balances which is a major part of the Constitution and government today. The legeslative, judicial, and executive branches all have special powers that control and contain one another. In this way Locke's ideas are still greatly integrated in today's society.
Overall, Locke had several ideas that had major influences on American ideals and how the United State's government is run.
Overall, John Locke didn't like the idea of a government, where one person has complete control. He thought of a government as evil, and that the majority of people didn't have enough of an input. However, he also believed that it was necessary for the people, because they are naturally 'bad'. John Locke believed that a government was used for the purpose of creating a safe environment in order to protect the people, and their freedoms. Locke also mentions many natural rights that everyone is entitled to. He said that all people are equal, and that "life, health, liberty, and possessions" cannot be taken away from you. Locke's thesis of the natural state of human beings relates to American ideals, by his principle of checks and balances which still influences the government greatly today. He set a precedent for the rights and liberties of people used today.
John Locke's thesis was based on how people needed structure and law in order to keep a orderly society. Without law, people are not able to organize and work together as one. This is why government was needed in the society. Locke also discusses in great detail about how society cannot exist without corruption. This proves to be true in today's society.
9 comments:
From your readings and discussion about Locke and the Age of Reason, explain what you think is the thesis of Locke's writing and how his thesis applies to American ideals. You may choose to write on modern American ideals or others we have studied.
Brett St. John Otober 21, 2007
From John Locke's work was extremly influential. The golden rule of the law of nature is all the natural rights that every person has a right to. Locke stressed the inportance of government, because all people are bad and anarchy would surely cause a revolution of the wrong sort. Locke believed that human nature was based off of reason and tolerance. Which allowed people to be selfish, Locke believed that no one had the right to take or jepordise someones life, health, liberty or possessions. Locke also had many views about money and exchange, he belived that revolution is not only needed but a right. His views on checks and balences influenced the declaration of independence and the Constitution.
Locke's philosophy was one that is especially evident in American doctrine. His belief is that the government is evil and unfair for the general community. However, it is a necessary evil for each community to have government because men are inherently bad and selfish; therefore an anarchical system could not be effective. Men cannot be trusted not to infringe and endanger the rights of other men and must therefore be monitored by the government. It is the job of the government to protect the rights and liberties of men, not to limit them. This ideology is clear in American life through the Declaration of Independence. Specifically the line,
“That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.”
Locke’s further work also examines supply and demand theory which dictates the American economy.
Locke's philosophical ideas on government played an influencial role in the creation of the US as we know it. His thoughts on government are clearly evident in our own American Revolution. Lock believed that a government is only there to supply laws and to govern those laws for the protection and overall happiness of its people. He also thought that government was a nescessary evil in order to control corruption amongst humans. The American Revolution took heavily from these ideas. Britain was controlling the aspects of colonial life for its own personal benefit. Colonists used the philosophies of Locke to justify revolting against their mother country.
Lockes thesis implies that there is no way for humans to exist without corruption. While there may be those who could do it on their own, it is impossible for a society. There will always be people who are corrupt. This is where government intervenes. Government is there to create laws to punish and control the corruption. It is in place to protect the good and help to maintain a happy lifestyle.
Reid Keener
English 11-1
Locke ‘Age of Reason’ Response
Based on what we have read from Locke, and what his contributions to the Age of Reason were, I have formulated a thesis of what his beliefs were. Government is a necessary evil that both protects the natural rights of individuals by inhibiting their freedom of action. As Alice said earlier, Locke believed that at their very core, all people are essentially evil. In order to keep civilization from descending into chaos, a government will keep corrupting forces in check. This idea is one of foundations of our American Government. When this country was created, it was basically an experiment to see how much freedom could be given to the people while still maintaining order. This experiment was so effective, that our system of government has been exported to nations all over the globe, along with the ideals of Locke. In the future, this will most certainly be seen as the greatest of America’s legacies. Locke also gave us the important ideas of natural rights, state of nature, and ‘tabula rasa*’; all central to the principles of the American Revolution and the government thereafter.
*Government with the consent of the Governed
k. wulftange
Locke's philosophy in the Age of Reason outlined the pro's and con's of a government in a community. His idea that government could be necessary was defined by the fact that the world was full of cruel and evil people that would make the world chaotic if it was lawful to do so. Locke explained that government should be there in order for the citizens to remain happy and safe. This implied the necessity of "natural rights" which are the rights that one is born with and that all can enjoy. Locke's thesis depended on the idea that government was only in the country to keep people content and to rule out as much evil as possible. Besides the emphasis on the importance of government, Locke seemed to take a very anarchist stance on the idea of how government officials should influence the community. He believed that listening to someone over you was not something anyone wanted to do, therefore government was only necessary because to keep people in check, the evil people did have to be ordered around and served a consequense. Locke's thesis that debated between the good and bad of government proves that he was a man of all government parties, and used ideas from several to come up with a philosphy to benefit each citizen as best as it could during the Revolution.
Locke believed that human nature was characterized by reason and tolerance and believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish. Naturally, all people were equal and independent and non had a right to harm another's life, health, liberty and possessions. He advocated governmental checks and balances and believed that revolution was a right and obligation. These ideas had an influence on the ideas of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
He believed that government was evil and unfair because people that are given too much power are corrupt.Lock believed that a government is only there to supply laws and to govern those laws for the protection and overall happiness of its people. But he believed that the people should be given many more rights than laws. During the Revolution, the colonists used Locke's ideas to revolt against their Britain.
He believed the sole responsibility of the government is to create laws to punish and control corruption.
John Locke was very focused on the idea of liberalism and how all people people were equal and independent, and none had a right to harm another’s “life, health, liberty, or possessions. He thought that human nature was characterized by rattional and acceptance, and that people could coexist peacefully without a government as long as they stayed within the bounds of Natural Laws. Mostly Locke's ideas and how they helped form this country have been lost through time as laws become stricter and the government controls more and more of our lives. However, the fundamental idea of Locke's thesis, freedom, has been carried through the centuries. For the most part, people are free to do what they want as long as it doesn't infringe on the safety or property of another person.
Also, Locke supported the ideas of Checks and Balances which is a major part of the Constitution and government today. The legeslative, judicial, and executive branches all have special powers that control and contain one another. In this way Locke's ideas are still greatly integrated in today's society.
Overall, Locke had several ideas that had major influences on American ideals and how the United State's government is run.
Overall, John Locke didn't like the idea of a government, where one person has complete control. He thought of a government as evil, and that the majority of people didn't have enough of an input. However, he also believed that it was necessary for the people, because they are naturally 'bad'. John Locke believed that a government was used for the purpose of creating a safe environment in order to protect the people, and their freedoms. Locke also mentions many natural rights that everyone is entitled to. He said that all people are equal, and that "life, health, liberty, and possessions" cannot be taken away from you. Locke's thesis of the natural state of human beings relates to American ideals, by his principle of checks and balances which still influences the government greatly today. He set a precedent for the rights and liberties of people used today.
John Locke's thesis was based on how people needed structure and law in order to keep a orderly society. Without law, people are not able to organize and work together as one. This is why government was needed in the society. Locke also discusses in great detail about how society cannot exist without corruption. This proves to be true in today's society.
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