John Locke’s “Second Treatise on Government”: Locke’s View of Human Nature and the Only Legitimate Form of Government
Number of pages:
4
ABSTRACT:
This is a 4 page paper discussing human nature and government based on mutual consent from John Locke’s his “Second Treatise on Government” (1690). John Locke within his “Second Treatise on Government” covers the development of the need for civil government based on the laws of Nature and those of man. Firstly, in Nature, all men are equal and it is within human nature to love and want to be loved by others, humans, with whom they are equal. Despite this love for other humans however, Locke also acknowledges that man realizes that human nature has weaknesses and because of this men mutually agree to follow the laws of Nature which will not allow men to harm another’s life, property, health or freedom. Men also mutually agree on laws within their government by which all men must consent or be punished if broken. The consent to follow mutual laws is also applied to government in that as man chooses to become a member of society he also agrees to the mutual terms set out by the government he choose to support within society. Civil government can only be effective if it extends the human nature of man to be equal by the mutual consent of all those concerned.
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