He feels that when you join this common-wealth you give up what the Law of Nature has given you before joining. ... He believes that people form common-wealth's in order to avoid some inconveniences that occur in the law of Nature. ... Another inconvenience occurs because the passions of men cause them to misapply the laws of Nature and hurt themselves and others. ... (Locke p.79) A fourth guideline is that government cannot transfer the power to make the laws to anyone other than the choice made by the people of that common-wealth. ... That is where the community as a whole uses t...

• Word Count: 2615
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

It will also identify each philosopher's reasons as to the purpose of government, as well as the impact of each of their conclusions and its relevance of authority within their depicted governments. ... Natural men are free, "masterlesse men, without subjection to Lawes, and a coercive Power" (Hobbes 141). ... Comment [CB5]: I would introduce Hobbes' notion of natural law here, too. Comment [CB6]: But this, in itself, is not contrary to Hobbes. naturally bound and governed by the "law of nature" (Locke 9). He explains as follows; "The State of Nature has a la...

• Word Count: 3200
• Approx Pages: 13

All governments are really mixed in character; and what we call a democracy is only a more or less democratic government. ... This may be seen in his treatment of law as a whole, in which he defines laws as "acts of the general will," and, agreeing with Montesquieu in making law the "condition of civil association," goes beyond him only in tracing it more definitely to its origin in an act of will (Book II: VI). The Social Contract renders law necessary, and at the same time makes it quite clear that laws can proceed only from the body of citizens who have constituted the State. ... Humbly spe...

• Word Count: 7115
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

All governments are really mixed in character; and what we call a democracy is only a more or less democratic government. ... This may be seen in his treatment of law as a whole, in which he defines laws as "acts of the general will," and, agreeing with Montesquieu in making law the "condition of civil association," goes beyond him only in tracing it more definitely to its origin in an act of will (Book II: VI). The Social Contract renders law necessary, and at the same time makes it quite clear that laws can proceed only from the body of citizens who have constituted the State. ... Humbly spe...

• Word Count: 7114
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Governments are created as a means to establish rules and laws as a guide to solving conflicts, and for the protection of the citizen's liberty and security. ... Second, elites in the government may wish to set aside the rule of law under the sway of desiring change in rules to allow them to proceed with their desired actions. ... An example of this was when the elites in government decided it was deaf to the rule of law, when the elites in government imposed its will on parliament through non-electoral methods during WW2 when Japanese-Canadians were put into internment camps. ... The ...

• Word Count: 2856
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

As Chilling as the thought of our government lying to us is, the idea of our own government being behind the attacks is not so far fetched; Would our own government stage a fake terrorist attack? More importantly, what would our government gain from staging a tragedy such as the attacks on 9/11? ... Soon after the attacks, the US Congress would pass the PATRIOT Act, "An Act to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes" (Congress, 2001), considered by many to be the tool that ultima...

• Word Count: 2538
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

According to Luther, "By such externally imposed law [non-Christians] would be compelled to desist from evil, and would be hedged about by outward law and government, and subjected to authority" (Luther 9). In essence, the secular Sword and laws are set forth for the unjust not the just. ... He needs no law of man, only the law of love and nature, to set his path aright and to live in the service of God. ... Peace cannot exist in the state of war born out of the state of nature, so it becomes apparent that the laws of nature must prevail to maintain order. "...the first, and fundamental law o...

• Word Count: 2524
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

He opined in his Essay on Human Understanding, (in three chapters) that there are no universally binding moral laws. ... He also compared morals to mathematics by saying that it is a demonstrable science which is subject to universal laws. Further explaining what those universal laws are, he noted that they were of two types, namely – Divine Law and Natural Law. ... The Natural Law is also an eternal law, which determines what is considered to be good and evil. ... Finally, in the 'Second Treatise on Civil Government', he said that men are naturally in the state of equality. ...

• Word Count: 7056
• Approx Pages: 28
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

These Laws of Nature (Hobbes, Leviathan 103 v/s 122) allow humans to avoid living in a State of Nature (Hobbes, Leviathan 98-102) and allow them to co-exist in a collective unit to preserve peace. A Law of Nature (Hobbes, Leviathan 103 v/s 122) is valid only when it corresponds to this general rule: "Do not that to another, which thou wouldest not have done to thyself." (Hobbes, Leviathan 122) Hobbes believes that there are two types of people who live in a Law of Nature (Hobbes, Leviathan 103-122), a Natural Person (Hobbes, Leviathan 125) and an Artificial Person. ... The subject does hav...

• Word Count: 2690
• Approx Pages: 11

A Comparison of the State of Nature between: Hobbes, Leviathan & Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government Final Draft The state of nature is a traditional starting point for many political thinkers attempting to develop, from the natural state of man, some theory about society and politics. ... In the Leviathan and the Second Treatise of Civil Government, Hobbes and Locke, respectively, both ground their political philosophies at the same location: the state of nature, meaning the natural condition of mankind prior to any artifice such as government. ... Where there is no common Pow...

• Word Count: 4512
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He wanted to create a social contract with a large group that would abide the laws of government. ... He wrote that the state of nature is governed by law of nature. ... Locke gave us a theory of natural law; a natural right which he used to separate between true and false civil government, and to argue for the right to revolt against authoritarian government... "Nothing therefore happens in nature which is contrary to its universal laws. Nor does anything happen which does not agree with those laws or does not follow from them. ...

• Word Count: 3568
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography

"Any form of government, including republican or popular government, which does not fulfill the requirements of civil and political life is either a tyranny or a corrupt republic- that is, the two worst calamities that can befall a people" Essentially, tyranny under this theory involves the absence of the rule of law. Machiavelli thus recognizes that an ordered republic that can insure political and civil liberty must be founded on the rule of law. ... Like the jurists, he sees the generality and the impartiality of the law as the basis of civil life. ... The law is therefore necessary, ...

• Word Count: 4508
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

While Shakespeare believed familial institutions best provided such a condition and Hooker looked to the use of positive law, both men resisted the radical transformation of society through religious zealotry. ... The first relates to the "estrangement- of people under the impersonal rule of the state; the second rejects the idea of the rule of law in the belief that a repudiation of such formalism ends the estrangement of individuals from one another. ... For the Founders, the maintenance of liberty required the rule of law to protect against arbitrary and capricious Contemporary conception...

• Word Count: 2975
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

By definition, democratic governments depend on political participation by citizens in order to keep democracy alive. ... (Cole 9-25-01) Having a large income gives a citizen the opportunity and the resources to support their governmental institution, and by supporting their governmental institution they are participating in their government. ... Citizens who are in the position of loosing something if they do not pay attention to new laws and regulations pay close attention to the financial support needed in order to make their life easier or keep there life as it is. ... Most of the time par...

• Word Count: 2557
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Machiavelli begins by identifying the various types of governments seen up to that time. ... As a true patriot for his country, his proverbs were intended to ensure a stable and secure government without fear of attack from within or from outside invaders. The need for laws and a strong military force to enforce those laws is considered by Machiavelli as one of the most important concern for any ruler that has any hopes of maintaining control over their territory. ... For instance, Castro's rise to power in Cuba and his continued rule is dependent upon his ability to effectively mainta...

• Word Count: 3155
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He starts by saying that political realism believes that politics, like society in general, is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature. In order to improve society it is first necessary to understand the laws by which society lives. The operation of these laws being impervious to our preferences, men will challenge them only at the risk of failure. He further stated that realism, believing as it does in the objectivity of the laws of politics, must also believe in the possibility of developing a rational theory that reflects, however imperfectly and one-sidedly, these ...

• Word Count: 4234
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

As bad as it sounds, seeing as this is a paper for AP Government, politics have not and do not concern me. ... I pondered about things, like gun laws, same sex marriage, abortions, taxes, and realized what I was for and what I was really against.These issues really are like a red flag to me because beside me being a democrat, I'm faith based. ... That is usually her state government rants about how things are getting more expensive, and where in the world is out tax money going to, and just the usually politically obsessed talk. ... If anything, usually it's something negative about ...

• Word Count: 2511
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

After examining the tone of the book I discovered that Machiavelli isn't just simply writing his thoughts as expressed opinions but more along the lines of facts or laws. ... Italy was divided between four dominant city-states, and each of these was continually at the mercy of the stronger foreign governments of Europe. ... One of the main purposes of The Prince is was, for Machiavelli, to some how get Florence back into the hands of local government and to restore Florence. ...

• Word Count: 2654
• Approx Pages: 11