Colton Lynch
Professor Topper
Pol Sci 31A
19 November 2017
Second Essay – Question 4 Throughout the history of politics the topic of the legitimacy of a government has always been one of controversy and truly deserves deep thought to find the most correct answer. Two of the most politically influential individuals who have shaped modern government as we see it today, John Locke and Plato, have given this topic much thought and have delivered to us their own answers. Plato believes that a government is legitimate as long as its fundamental basis is justice and is driven towards goodness for all involved within the government and the community that it governs. While on the other hand John Locke believes that a government is legitimate as long …show more content…
Locke’s viewpoint is similar to Plato’s as he also believes in the importance of fairness, however, Locke’s idea is focused more on the idea of having consent from the body of people being ruled rather than a government being directed in the way of justice as Locke even states in his Two Treatises of Government that “nothing being able to put him [individual in a community] into subjection to any earthly power, but only his own consent” (Locke 119). Locke’s main idea is that the government is there to work FOR the people and not necessarily to rule over them. A governments true purpose under Locke’s ideals is to present an authority in order to preserve justice, have the right people make the right decisions that impact the whole community, and also to be the communicate with other bodies of government to decide upon international affairs. However, if at any point there is a consensus among the people who are being governed decide that they no longer want to be under the rule of their government then said government has lost its ability to serve the people and loses all of its authority that it …show more content…
This is due in part to me having seen Locke’s viewpoint come into fruition on more than one occasion while I have yet to experience solid evidence of Plato’s argument become more than just an idea in the head of one of the greatest thinkers. The American Revolution was built upon people refusing to consent to the rules laid out to them, which ultimately led to a revolution and the birth of a new nation. There is also the French Revolution (inspired by the American Revolution), which came bout due to a people being upset with their current government and instead of creating anew nation they instead reformed and changed their system of government from monarchy to a Republic. While a philosopher king government which pursues justice for all citizens may prove to be extremely useful and in the end more of a legitimate government, it just would not be wise to trust speculation over fact. As far as I can tell there have been plenty of legitimate governments that were not run on the pursuit of goodness and justice but there have been governments born out of the nature of rebellion. There is also the fact that in my opinion you cannot have a legitimate government without the consent of the people, as it simply will not work. A
Professor Topper
Pol Sci 31A
19 November 2017
Second Essay – Question 4 Throughout the history of politics the topic of the legitimacy of a government has always been one of controversy and truly deserves deep thought to find the most correct answer. Two of the most politically influential individuals who have shaped modern government as we see it today, John Locke and Plato, have given this topic much thought and have delivered to us their own answers. Plato believes that a government is legitimate as long as its fundamental basis is justice and is driven towards goodness for all involved within the government and the community that it governs. While on the other hand John Locke believes that a government is legitimate as long …show more content…
Locke’s viewpoint is similar to Plato’s as he also believes in the importance of fairness, however, Locke’s idea is focused more on the idea of having consent from the body of people being ruled rather than a government being directed in the way of justice as Locke even states in his Two Treatises of Government that “nothing being able to put him [individual in a community] into subjection to any earthly power, but only his own consent” (Locke 119). Locke’s main idea is that the government is there to work FOR the people and not necessarily to rule over them. A governments true purpose under Locke’s ideals is to present an authority in order to preserve justice, have the right people make the right decisions that impact the whole community, and also to be the communicate with other bodies of government to decide upon international affairs. However, if at any point there is a consensus among the people who are being governed decide that they no longer want to be under the rule of their government then said government has lost its ability to serve the people and loses all of its authority that it …show more content…
This is due in part to me having seen Locke’s viewpoint come into fruition on more than one occasion while I have yet to experience solid evidence of Plato’s argument become more than just an idea in the head of one of the greatest thinkers. The American Revolution was built upon people refusing to consent to the rules laid out to them, which ultimately led to a revolution and the birth of a new nation. There is also the French Revolution (inspired by the American Revolution), which came bout due to a people being upset with their current government and instead of creating anew nation they instead reformed and changed their system of government from monarchy to a Republic. While a philosopher king government which pursues justice for all citizens may prove to be extremely useful and in the end more of a legitimate government, it just would not be wise to trust speculation over fact. As far as I can tell there have been plenty of legitimate governments that were not run on the pursuit of goodness and justice but there have been governments born out of the nature of rebellion. There is also the fact that in my opinion you cannot have a legitimate government without the consent of the people, as it simply will not work. A