John Locke and the Limits of Liberty
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John Locke argues that there are limits of liberty and of property in the ideal political system, and his limits are relatively reasonable. The limits are reasonable because they provide for as much liberty as possible without creating a disorderly society in which the ownership of private property could not be guaranteed. Of course, the view that Locke does indeed find a reasonable balance is based on the belief that private property is an essential element of any society, if not the most essential element. Clearly, to Locke, such private property is such a central element of society. The limits are unreasonable in that too much of the power in the society is inevitably concentrated in the hands of those who own that property. In other words, because he starts with the idea of property as the central basis of society, it is inevitable that Locke creates a society which will be run by those with property, for such property-owners will be most likely to ensure the security of property. Locke wants to define a government which will avoid the violence of the state of nature and at the same time will cut only minimally into the freedoms which he believes people have according to nature. Locke did not mean only material property, but life itself, although Locke's writings clearly mean to set up a government which will ensure the protection of the ownership of material property. Locke believes that the laws which find expression in the civil government exist already in the state
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t "relatively" democratic and thus marked by at least the hope of a reasonable degree of freedom is the fact that the citizens have agreed to the establishment of the government. Writing of the state of nature, Locke says, "The inconveniences of that condition, and the love and want of society, no sooner brought any number of them together, but they presently united and incorporated" (397). They "agree together mutually to enter into one community, and make one body politic" (346).
It is true that most people are born into a society of laws and do not sit down and consider whether to join such a body. It happens before they are aware of it. Still, if they dwell in the society and agree by their presence to be protected by the laws, as well as obey them, and if they also take advantage of the laws which allow them to acquire, own and enjoy their private property, then it is clearly true that they are agreeing to be a part of that society.
Although those with the most property have the most power and freedom, according to the laws which they have the power and freedom to write and pass, it is also true that, as Locke writes, that "every man has a property in his own person' and "the labor of his body, and the work of his hands
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Approximate Word count = 1347
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)
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