Political Theory Comparing Locke, Rousseau and Plato Essay

Locke: What is the purpose of politics - we could live in the state of nature, we don’t need contract or soverign - life, liberty and property State of nature: men live according to reason and governed by reason - man exists in the state of nature in perfect freedom to do as they want, a state of perfect freedom - not necessarily good or bad, bit is calm and peaceful - men give up some of their freedom to secure the advantages of civilized socity - men have the right to protect their freedom (killing if necessary) - bound by the laws of nature - contrast with hobbes: everyone has the right over everything, there exist no private property - Liberty to do as†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ First part says that the aim of the contract is to protect and defend the common goods of each member. Consistent with Locke’s claims that the purpose of society is protect the security of each members. Rousseau adds a second and more disctinctly original claim. †¢ The contract must ensure the conditions for mutual protection, but also in uniting with one another each person obeys only himself and remains as free as he was before. †¢ Isn’t the essence of the social contract giving up part of our natural freedom? †¢ How can we remain as free. †¢ Total alienation of each associate together with all of his rights to the entire community †¢ Total alienation, entire community. †¢ To ensure the terms of the agreements, persons must totally give themselves up for the social contract. †¢ When we alienate ourselves, this must be given to the entire community. This is to ensure that the general will works. †¢ General will is only legitimate sovereign. The famous doctrine of the sovereignty of the people †¢ When we give ourselves over to it, we do nothing more than obey ourselves. Sovereign is not third party, it is simply the people as a whole acting in their collective capacity. †¢ How do we remain as free as we were before? †¢ Formula for freedom or tyranny of the majority? †¢ Only through total alienation do we remain free, because nobody isShow MoreRelatedJurisprudential Theories on IPR13115 Words   |  53 Pagesproperty, such as: 1. Natural Rights/Justice Argument: this argument is based on Locke’s idea that a person has a natural right over the labour and/or products which is produced by his/her body. Appropriating these products is viewed as unjust. Although Locke had never explicitly stated that natural right applied to products of the mind,[34]  it is possible to apply his argument to intellectual property rights, in which it would be unjust for people to misuse anothers ideas.[35]  Lokeans argument for intellectualRead MoreThe Implication of Paulo Freires Banking Concept to the 8.4.4 System of Education in Kenya9634 Words   |  39 Pages The frustrations faced in the efforts placed while going through the 8:4:4 system necessitated this study. This paper will try to find out to what extent the associationism theory of John Locke will be applicable in analyzing how Kenyan education has contributed to lack of creativity in the country. Based on this theory, it is hoped that solutions will be suggested. It’s my position that we go back to the drawing board (in this case, classroom) to re-design our curriculum. There is dire need forRead MoreNormality and Coercion: Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Rawls3749 Words   |  15 PagesHobbes theory of the Leviathan replacing the ‘state of nature’, what is his conception of normativity and coercion? Discuss three writers from different disciplines who change and update these conceptions and the relationship between normativity and coercion. The 17th Century English philosopher Thomas Hobbes is now widely regarded as one of a handful of truly great political philosophers, whose masterwork Leviathan rivals in significance the political writings of Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau