For this
installment, I chose to talk about John Locke and his philosophy on politics.
In addition, I will be stating some of the works he’s known for contributing to
the American government. John Locke is considered to be the most important
thinker of politics. John Locke is best known for his contributions in American
government; which are now taught in history classes. Locke was born on August 29, 1632, in
Wrington, a village in the English county of Somerset. Locke’s father was a
country lawyer and sometimes a judge; who was involved with the English
government. Therefore, Locke was surrounded by politics all his life and he
grew to love it. So, like his father, Locke chose to take the same route. Locke
went to school, dedicated to his studies, exceling in all school curriculums
throughout his life. Later, Locke would
be involved with the politics in American governments working as secretary to
the Earl of Shaftesbury, then chancellor of the exchequer. Locke assisted in
drafting the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina and was secretary to the Council
of Trade and Plantations and a member of the Board of Trade.
Locke
is referred to as “The Father of Liberalism,” because of his development of the
principles of humanism and individual freedom. Locke is said to be the first
person to come up with the notion of life, liberty, and estate. In comparison, Locke
is responsible for the same libertarianism writings in the Declaration of Independence and U.S
Constitution. His documents Second
Treatise on Government and Letters on
Toleration are some of the founding pieces of work for liberalism. These documents lead the foundation
for a limited government, tolerance for religious differences, and private
property rights. However, despite his philosophy of humanism and individual
freedom; Locke proved himself to be a hypocrite by promoting and benefiting
from slavery.
It’s
astonishing how someone can claim to be for the people but distinguishes who
“the people” are and not. He states that slaves are just “prisoners taken in a
just war.” Which I find hard to fathom since slavery went on for generations
and children were born into the inhumane and unjust treatments of slavery in
America. I can’t understand how you can separate the conception of freedom
based on color. In addition, I doubt any slave voluntarily gave up their
freedom to work for another man, and for no pay. So, they deserved to have
those rights that America stated in the Constitution. The constitution’s
writing does not state a division within the people so, I just don’t understand
how it can be translated as such. Although, the documentations weren’t applied
as stated in those days, I’m glad to say that it has changed and those rights
are given today. Even though, Locke wasn’t fully into his notion of freedom and
liberty; he did start the movement for equality, therefore, his philosophy remains
unique.
In
conclusion, Locke’s philosophy of humanism and individual freedom birth the U.S Constitution. His philosophy gave us
the rights we know of today and despite some of his actions, his contributions
are amount less to our society.
Comments:
https://cophilosophy.blogspot.com/2017/04/immanuel-kant-blog-post-1-lucy-haston.html?showComment=1493327578840#c8316766773274432261
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Comments:
https://cophilosophy.blogspot.com/2017/04/immanuel-kant-blog-post-1-lucy-haston.html?showComment=1493327578840#c8316766773274432261
https://cophilosophy.blogspot.com/2017/04/96-normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x.html?showComment=1493328341572#c7684438499465629779
I found this topic very interesting and I did not know it was because of Locke's philosophy that gave us our rights.
ReplyDelete"his contributions are amount less to our society" - ?
ReplyDeleteTo the larger point: "Locke wasn’t fully into his notion of freedom and liberty" - no, he was a product of his time. But isn't that often the way? People introduce ideas, others expand them and introduce principles of inclusion that their founders couldn't grasp. Give Locke the credit he's due, and give his successors and expanders theirs.