John Locke's Two Treaties Of Government

John Locke is among the philosophers who contributed a lot of ideas on politics and how the government runs. Locke alongside other philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes examined the state of nature, a philosophical model, in understanding human nature. He offered a complete version of how the government should be run in Two Treaties of Government. Furthermore, Locke describes the state of nature as an ideal state of freedom (Locke and Hay 106). He follows the natural law tradition which argues that human beings have a moral sense that bars them from participating in some actions.
State of Nature
In the state of nature, Locke speaks of the natural instincts of human beings as a way of defining political power. He describes the state of nature
as an ideal state of freedom, a state of equality where no one is above another and has no power over the other person (Locke and Hay 106). Besides, he explains that every individual is free to do as he pleases. Nevertheless, he mentions that the liberty does not certify one to abuse another and that natural law is in existence in the state of nature (Locke and Hay 107). Everybody has the power to effect natural laws in a state of nature. These laws are normally universal. Furthermore, Lock posits that even though individuals can execute the natural laws, their proof is in the fact that although an individual cannot be under the powers of a foreign king, if they commit any crime in another country, they can still face punishment (Locke and Hay 107).
He suggests that natural laws normally demand that punishment fit the crime. On the same note, an individual in a state of nature can rectify any crime to prevent or dissuade the offender from repeating it. He concludes by suggesting that everybody is in a state of nature until an agreement is drawn between them to make them members of a political society (Locke and Hay
108). The state of nature by Locke is, therefore, one of equality since each person has the same powers as his or her neighbors, which suggests that it is a state of non-subjection. Individuals cannot depend on others because it is a state of freedom though this independence is not absolute.
State of War
Locke discusses tow things in a state of war; what war is and how it is initiated.
The definition of war by Locke is a state of enmity and destruction (Locke and Hay 112). The second part, how war is initiated is in Locke's mind the most. He suggests that declaring intent by word or action is what initiates the state of war. He declares that it is morally right and permissible to kill someone who tries to create a state of war. For instance, it is reasonable to murder a robber because the attack on one's property represents a threat to his or her liberty (Locke and Hay 113). Here, the robber has created a state of war, therefore exposed to being killed.
In the state of war, Locke argues that people design force on others without a common authority (Locke and Hay 112). In such a scenario, the party that faces the attack has the right to war. Locke suggests that anyone who is threatened to be destroyed has a right to cause destruction to the other party. Furthermore, anyone who tries to get another individual into his absolute power puts himself in a state of war with the individual. He points out that such people who want to force others into their absolute powers without their consent may use them as they please and finally destroy them (Locke and Hay
112).
How human beings form societies and governments
According to Locke, the varied representations of the state of nature offers different causes for the creation of government and giver a variety of functions and powers to the state. The first society was the union between a man and wife that started the parenting responsibilities (Locke and Hay 138). According to Locke's believe, human beings ran away from the state of nature to look for an unbiased empire where they would employ the law of nature and protect their estates. Such a move to politics and governance implies that a man has foregone his executive powers of the law of nature. Men join the community and unite together to have a comfortable and safe life. At this point, human beings do not need God to represent them but another person to maintain the law.
The second Treaties on Governments
Locke lived through a tumultuous time and transition. During Locke's days, England was deeply a Christian society and people valued each other because they believed that everybody is equal (Gombrich 215). As time went by, people who taught that all men were equal before God took the arguments further because they started demanding that everybody should be treated equally. Every human being has the rights that should not be denied or ignored by another.
After the overthrow of King James II in 1688 by a group of parliamentarians, it resulted in a Glorious Revolution (Theriault). Locke witnessed these happenings and wrote what is normally known as the Second Treaty on Government. It is interesting to note that at this time Locke was rooted in Christianity and had no interest in leaving his past despite his enlightenment. Just like other philosophers, he was ready to use his reasoning and experience to make his case known. According to Locke's believe, people are naturally free and the existence of a government was to promote public goods, protect people's property, lives, and liberty (Theriault). This is contrary to the common believed at the time that God naturally made everybody subject to a monarch. Hence, those in charge of governing others need to be elected by the society. Additionally, people (the society) must possess the power to install a new Government when required to do so.