ipl-logo

John Locke's Concept Of Justice

1751 Words8 Pages

Justice is one of the most important moral and political concepts. The word comes from the Latin word jus, meaning right or law. According to Kelsen (2000), Justice is primarily a possible, but not a necessary, quality of a social order regulating the mutual relations of men As a result of its importance, prominent and knowledgeable people have shared their views on justice and what it means and how the state is involved in its administration. The likes of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke among others have written extensively on the concept of justice. Plato regarded justice as the true principle of social life. Plato in his day found a lot of evil in society. He saw unrighteousness rampant and injustice enthroned. …show more content…

Locke's most important and influential political writings are contained in his Two Treatises on Government. The first treatise is concerned almost exclusively with refuting the argument that political authority was derived from religious authority. The second treatise contains Locke’s own constructive view of the aims and justification for civil government. According to Locke, the State of Nature, the natural condition of mankind, is a state of perfect and complete liberty to conduct one's life as one best sees fit, free from the interference of others. This does not mean, however, that it is a state of license: one is not free to do anything at all one pleases, or even anything that one judges to be in one’s interest. The State of Nature, although a state wherein there is no civil authority or government to punish people for transgressions against laws, is not a state without morality. To Locke, persons are assumed to be equal to one another in such a state, and therefore equally capable of discovering and being bound by the Law of Nature. The Law of Nature, which is on Locke’s view the basis of all morality, and given to us by God, commands that we not harm others with regards to their life, health, liberty, or possessions. This is because we all belong equally to God, and because we cannot take away that which is rightfully His, we are prohibited from harming one another. So, the State of Nature is a state of liberty where persons are free to pursue their own interests and plans, free from interference, and, because of the Law of Nature and the restrictions that it imposes upon persons, it is relatively peaceful. The State of Nature therefore, is not the same as the state of war. It can, however devolve into a state of war, in particular, a state of war over property disputes. Whereas the State of Nature is the state of liberty where persons recognize the Law of Nature and therefore do not harm one

Show More
Related

How Did John Locke Preserve The Federal Government

890 Words | 4 Pages

independent”. According to the state of nature, no man should endanger another man’s life, well-being, freedom, or possessions. Everyone is “obligated by the laws of nature to respect the rights of every man”, according to Locke. 2. It is necessary for man to give up certain liberties under the laws of nature when entering into society.

Read More

What Does Justice Mean In Terms Of The Australian Legal System

1257 Words | 6 Pages

1. What does 'justice' mean in terms of the Australian Legal System? Justice is fairness, it's the process of protecting rights and to fairly judge and punish wrongs and giving every individual their due rights from the system. This includes all rights, natural right and legal rights.

Read More

Compare And Contrast Letter From Birmingham Jail And Plato's Crito

1059 Words | 5 Pages

Justice is a related theme that appears very often in ancient Greek literature and modern day stories. While philosophers and modern thinkers praise justice, most end up dying for what they are convinced in. In Plato’s Crito, Socrates has the chance to escape execution, but he chooses not to because it is not suitable for a man to harm others, even if they have harmed him. He doesn’t believe in revenge, for that means doing wrong to others. Martin Luther King Jr. writes the Letter from Birmingham Jail to help acknowledge and bring exposure to the Birmingham community and to the United States the injustices that are happening to African Americans.

Read More

John Locke Dbq Essay

852 Words | 4 Pages

In a segment of, Of the State of Nature in Document A, John Locke writes, “We must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions...within the bounds of nature.” In, Of the Dissolution of Government, one part of the segment is, “The people are at liberty to provide for themselves.” All of the evidence is from John Locke himself. He wrote both of the books, Of the State of Nature and Of the Dissolution of Government. Both segments of the document include people having the choice to their own

Read More

John Locke Dbq

697 Words | 3 Pages

In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke revealed his interests in new science, developing theories of education and knowledge (SMW, 34). One of the main points in his Treatise is that of the law of nature, where all men are in natural state of perfect freedom (SMW, 34). Locke argues, “Men being…by nature all free, equal, and independent,

Read More

Examples Of Justice In The Crucible

540 Words | 3 Pages

Justice; such a simple word that has many different meanings. What does justice mean? Is there only specific individuals that deserve justice? Many individuals believe that the word “justice” symbolizes a sort of respect for one, while others believe that this word has no meaning at all and that it is actions that actually make a difference. Each individuals must word hard to obtain justice due to the fact that respect is earned when an individual is defending their rights and interests.

Read More

Compare And Contrast John Locke And The Declaration Of Independence

1002 Words | 5 Pages

John Locke was a philosopher and political scientist. He had many interests and produced a number of writings that influenced future leaders. One of these leaders was Thomas Jefferson, who was involved with the aid of America and the act gaining independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence and Locke’s views on government contain many similar aspects. These ideas includes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (natural rights); the protection that is provided by the government for these rights; and the altering or abolishment of government if it fails to provide and protect the rights of the people.

Read More

Locke Vs Tocqueville Analysis

1084 Words | 5 Pages

Locke’s definition of liberty depends on whether the person is in the state of nature, in which people are “without subordination or subjection” (Locke 101) or if they have formed into a commonwealth, or whenever “any number of men are so united into one society, as to quit every one his executive power of the law of nature, and resign it to the public” (Locke 137-38). In the Lockean state of nature, men have a “freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and persons” (Locke 101). This freedom is still limited by what Locke refers to as the law of nature, or that “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions” (Locke 102). He also defines the liberty of the state of nature as “not to be under any will or legislative authority of man” (Locke 109). In his form of commonwealth, there is more limited freedom, in which liberty is to “be under no legislative power, but that established, by the consent of the commonwealth” (Locke 110).

Read More

John Locke State Of Nature Essay

1104 Words | 5 Pages

25). Locke’s state of nature demonstrates a state which entails perfect freedom and the right to one’s own actions and possessions (Locke 2 sect. 4). He then

Read More

Vigilantes Definition Of Justice

893 Words | 4 Pages

Justice can take many forms whether it’s receiving a punishment from one’s parents or coming to an agreement in court. However, the word justice is used so often and so freely that it can often be used wrong. According to the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, the definition of justice is, “The maintenance or administration of what is just esp. by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards and punishments” (“Justice”). This simply means that justice is protecting what is right by penalizing offenders, awarding heroes, and being unbiased when mediating disputes.

Read More

John Locke's State Of War

746 Words | 3 Pages

During the time of enlightenment, Locke provides his opinion on war describing it as a state of enmity and destruction. He explains how aggression presented by one person to another challenges that persons freedom, and this reasoning seems to justify someone’s audacity to kill. In addition to this, he displays the state of nature and state of war, pointing out that they are not the same. In his explanation, the state of nature is an environment with people living together by reason, without a superior. Furthermore, a state of war is possible when people create force on others, without having a common authority.

Read More

Is The Natural State A Good Idea

782 Words | 4 Pages

Is the natural state a good idea? to answer this question English philosopher John Locke gave us inside through his writing on the Second Treatise of government where he wrote theories about the natural state of men and the government. In my opinion everything that the state of nature and the laws of nature stand for, are a bad idea and living in it would end up in chaos. On his Second Treatise of government Locke starts by explaining the state of nature, where men are all free to do as they please as long as it does not interfere with the laws of nature. The state of nature is also a state of equality, where men posses the right to enforce punishments and be the judge on their behalf.

Read More

Chivalry In Society

378 Words | 2 Pages

Chivalry in our generation Chivalry is needed in today 's society for a large of of reasons. In medieval literature it is usually responsible to know how to be a gentleman. The medieval is responsible for fostering our concept of being a gentleman. Chivalry once provided the foundation for our male code of ethics. As an ethical standard in medieval times, it certainly had its failings.

Read More

Aristotle: Justice And Happiness

1108 Words | 5 Pages

Philosophers have debated the distinct subjects such as justice and happiness extensively. For instance, Plato discusses the subject of justice by arguing that justice is what allows people to live excellently. In contrast, Aristotle discusses happiness by arguing that acquiring virtues enables people to achieve the ultimate goal of happiness. What is the meaning of the terms justice and happiness? The term happiness could be elucidated as a satisfaction from goals achieved or from one’s status.

Read More

Similarities Between Plato And John Locke

1333 Words | 6 Pages

Only those who are born with true philosophical understanding can rule. In the Second Treatise by John Locke, Locke addresses the state of nature, which is essentially equality and freedom. Even though people have liberty, they still need to obey natural laws. On the contrary of Plato’s just city, Locke believes that absolute authority is not a civil government. A civil society is where the majority rules.

Read More

More about John Locke's Concept Of Justice

Related Topics

Open Document