Similarities Between John Locke And Machiavelli

As long as the human race, the systems that govern it, and the ideas produced by it have evolved over time, so has the ideas of liberty and freedom. Intelligent minds continue to debate the topic, and great philosophers of different ages did the same. Take Niccolo Machiavelli, an atheist man whom used satire to criticize the structure of the Republic of Florence in the Italian Renaissance. Machiavelli stood as one who believed that government stood as the mechanism to ensure liberty in some capacity through the involvement of a republic’s people in creating and obeying such a government. For another view, turn to John Locke; a devout Christian and Enlightenment thinker known as the “Father of Liberalism.” Locke declared that liberty was a natural right of the people, and that government was subject to the people’s will. Both touch upon the same points, however they approach the …show more content…
Thus an understanding of Locke’s personal philosophy is required for his views on government. John Locke believes that we naturally are in a state of perfect freedom in a situation where equality proves all power reciprocal. (51) When these states are not in place through the violation of liberty by another you enter the state of war, bringing about destruction to society and nature through. Liberty according to Locke in nature thus “is to be free from any superior power on earth… but to have only the law of nature for his rule.” (54) Government then must have the power to preserve the natural rights of the people, for man must resign his natural rights to this government. This government is developed by the community to make a body politic where majority rule is law. (60) Locke declares then that should the government fail to provide for the protection of these natural rights, then it is the duty of the people to tear down such a government and form