Introduction to Philosophy

Achieve Test Prep: Philosophy

equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions. In fact, not only does the law of nature prohibit individuals from harming others, but it exhorts us to actively preserve their well-being. Locke recognized that despite the law of nature, some individuals may still invade the rights of others and even try to hurt them. In this case, each person is a government to him or herself, with the right to administer the law of nature and punish the transgressors to protect the innocent and preserve the peace. In contemplating the need for a social contract, everyone is equal and the greater the part of them are not strict observes of equality and justice and as a result, this state is very unsafe, very unsecure, and it is full of fears and continual dangers. Individuals reason that it would be in their self-interest to form a political state for the express purpose of ensuring that God’s law of nature is effectively administered specifically the following: • Through provisions of the law of nature need to be clearly articulated because, in the state of nature, people’s inherent biases skew their understanding of the law • Judges need to be appointed to arbitrate in the case of different interpretations of the law, again because people are partial to themselves and passion and revenge too often replace rational evaluation • There needs to be sufficient power to enforce the law, because offenders rarely accept their punishments passively Thus, individuals voluntarily enter into a social contract with others, constituting a government (by majority vote) that will effectively carry out these responsibilities, and ensuring that all citizens will receive equal, fair, impartial treatment and have their fundamental rights (granted under the law) protected. Locke believed that it was important to create different branches of the government that would have distinct powers and responsibilities.

• A legislative branch: Creates and interprets laws • An executive branch: To implement the laws • A federal branch: Responsible for making war and peace

The first two branches are identical to those of the U.S. government, and although Locke believed that judges should play a role in the government, he did not propose the judiciary branch. This was proposed by Baron de Montesquieu . At the center of Locke’s thinking of human rights is the concept of property, a term for him extends far beyond the idea of material possessions to include one’s body and the products of one’s labor. Locke’s concept of property represents a core value: We have the right to our own body, meaning the freedom to live our own lives and pursue our happiness freely without arbitrary interference from other individuals or from the state. Locke believed that everyone was entitled to own some property and that have the right to reap the benefits that our labor produces. It is a violation of our benefits to be expected to work without receiving a proportionate share of what our labor produces. The political leaders in America were very familiar with Locke’s writings and Thomas

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