John Locke by Dr Md Nazeer Hussain
- 1. •General Introduction •Natural Law and Natural rights •Views on Human Nature •Views on State of Nature •Views on Law of Nature •Views on Social Contract •Features of Social Contract •Views on State By: Dr Md Nazeer Hussain Dept of Pol Sc, USTM
- 2. General Introduction One of the most influential Political Philosophers of the modern period In his famous work “Two Treatises of Government” defended the claim That “Men are by nature free and equal” Against the claim that God had made all people naturally subject to a Monarch
- 3. Favoured that people have rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property Irrespective of the laws of any particular society Supported legitimate political government as the result of Social Contract In State of Nature, people conditionally transfer some of their rights to the Govt
- 4. Govt has to better ensure the stable and comfortable enjoyment of life, liberty, and property Existence of Govt Consent of the people For What? To protect the rights of the people To promote the public good
- 5. If the Govt fails to discharge the duties Can be resisted and replaced with new governments Thus Locke also defends the Right of Revolution Supports the majority rule and separation of legislative and executive powers
- 6. Locke denied that: Coercion should be used to bring people to (what the ruler believes is) the true religion Churches should have any coercive power over their members Thus Locke came in conflict with the established supremacy of the Church.
- 7. Natural Law and Natural Rights Central theme of Locke’s Political Philosophy Concept of Natural Law Existed long before Locke Means certain moral truth applicable to all regardless of place and agreement Natural Law distinct from: Conventional Laws: Operated only in those places where the particular convention had been established
- 8. Divine Laws: Revealed by God and applicable to those bound by it Natural Law and Divine Law can overlap in contents but are not coextensive Century before Locke, the language of Natural rights also gained prominence • Whereas natural laws emphasized on duties; • Natural rights normally emphasized on privileges and claims of an individuals
- 9. Deferring views on Natural Laws and Rights: Some believe that Locke has emphasized more on rights than duties Others believe that more emphasis is over duties than rights As right to life, liberty, and property also signifies the duties not to kill, enslave, and steal Furthermore, Locke never provided the specific content of Natural Law what it requires
- 10. Views on Human Nature No systematic views on human nature by Locke Views collected from his Essay and Second Treatise Human beings are decent Capable with natural social makeup Peace loving Don’t quarrel with each other Not always selfish
- 11. Locke also believes: Human beings are equal in moral sense Enjoy definite Natural Rights like right to life, liberty, property Locke’s views are completely different from Hobbes But he also fails to give scientific reasons like Hobbes
- 12. Views on State of Nature Extension of his logical thought of human nature Not as the State of War against each other Believed that it is a period of peace, good-will, mutual assistance, and preservation Not a pre-social but a pre-political condition Not for the war but for peace
- 13. Views on Law of Nature An important place in his thoughts Believed that: It governs the life of men and civil society Refrain men from conquering each other’s rights It is observed and the execution depends upon the community members Member has the right to punish the offender
- 14. Views on Social Contract No logical answer; why Social Contract? Believed that: The deficits in the law of nature make the man to leave the State of Nature Get into an agreement for the formation of the state What were the deficiencies? lack of an established, settled and known law each individual understood by his way that lead to misunderstanding lack of an executive organ to enforce a just decision
- 15. Features of Social Contract This is a contract of each with all Individual decided to surrender to the community as a whole Right to understand the law of nature Unlike Hobbes; only certain powers to community/sovereign Sovereign as a party to the contract Confined by the understanding of Natural law as members No absolute powers to Monarch because Monarch hurt from the touch of love
- 16. Also believed that: contract is undisputed men have freedom and independence in the state of nature nobody can force to join the politics against his will based on approval of the people Contract is irrevocable, once the people enter the contract means they cannot reverse it except by the government
- 17. Views on State Quite different from that of Hobbes Hobbes - as a requirement to guard the life of individual and gave absolute powers to it Locke – deficiencies in law of nature; to remove some suspicions; different ways of thought State to have three types of powers: legislative, executive and federative Legislative powers are most vital and elected it as “Supreme power of the Commonwealth”
- 18. Supreme powers to legislature but not absolute powers Relation between community and government lies with trust between each other Executive: Consist of judicial power Very important for the government to run Subordinate position limited by the legislative power Separated the powers of legislative and executive Apples for constitutional or limited government as against the absolute rule.