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John Locke Aim Of Government

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John Locke Aim Of Government
What should the aim of government be? This is a question that puzzles many minds in the United States. Some people argue that it should promote and instill peace, others beg to differ arguing that it should promote virtue or that its aim is to merely protect property. All are good points and will be thoroughly discussed in this paper. Aquinas, Hobbes and Locke are all philosophers with detailed opinions on what they think the government should aim to promote, for example, Locke, he “explains that the function of legitimate civil government is to preserve the rights of life, liberty, health, and property of citizens and to prosecute and punish those who violate the right of others.” Locke believed that private property is essential for liberty. …show more content…
Locke explained that the government worked for the people and they were in charge of protecting life and their property. Locke also deduced that when the government violated an individual’s rights that they had a right to rebel and protest. Locke influenced many people with his ideas from both past and present. There are people in today’s society that stand by Locke’s views. Locke also believed that private property plays a vital role in liberty. Locke states, “Every Man has a Property in his own Person. This no Body has any Right to but himself. The Labour of his Body, and the Work of his Hands, we may say, are properly his.” He continues: “The great and chief end therefore, of Mens uniting into Commonwealths, and putting themselves under Government, is the Preservation of their Property.” Many citizens in our society would agree with Locke because he is straightforward and for the people. Locke’s views are basically stating that no one can take what is yours, you have a right to your property and if any one intervene or takes it away and violate the rights of other people, the law should prosecute them. People in our present day society are much more anal about their personal property and their rights as well. Locke explains that the government shall protect and listen to the people/citizens, and shall not do anything concerning the people without their consent. He states that rulers “must not raise Taxes on the Property of the People, without the Consent of the People, given by themselves, or their Deputies.” The people should have the final say so when it comes to decision regarding their property and their

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