Wednesday, May 6, 2020

A Critique Of The Social Contract - 1946 Words

A Critique of the Social Contract According To John Locke Introduction John Locke embedded his political ideas in the form of two treatises popularly known as Two Treatises on Civil Government that he authored in 1690. In the first treatise, Locke disagrees with the political and social philosophy of Robert Filmer in his work known as Patriacha, authored in 1654. The second treatise contains Locke’s viewpoint on political philosophy where he expounds the origin, authority and the significance of a civil government. In addition, the treatise contains his view on the state of nature, the social contract, political groupings, types of government and a citizen’s right to own private property. The Social Contract Theory Unlike his predecessor,†¦show more content†¦In other words, human beings can be depended upon based on the fact that they are rational. Unlike Hobbes, Locke believed that human beings are unselfish and social. It is only in exceptional cases that some human beings are selfish, overly competitive and aggressive otherwise; most human beings are able to rule themselves through the law of nature or through rational thinking. Human beings are born free and are equal. The presence of reason in human beings ensures that they remain rational in their dealings. This factor enables human beings to discover the right behavior as seen in their control of emotions, anger, and expression of love among others. Instinctively, man desires to live in peace and harmony with fellow men. In regard to the state of nature, Locke contrasts Hobbes by asserting that there was law, order, peace and private property. Political legitimacy and power is derived from the state of nature since according to Locke, man has always lived in perfect equality and freedom where human beings order their actions and use their property within the confines of the law of nature. However, the state of nature does not imply misuse of liberty but using such liberty for the good of self

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