John Locke The Power Of Government Essay

Although John Locke was one of the greatest British philosophers, he played a vital role in the religious and political issues that arose. The government during this time was authoritarian, meaning the people of the community were dictated and controlled by royals without having a say. Locke believed that the government’s most important job was solely to govern the people, in way that was beneficial to them. In fact, without the community there would be no government. Locke’s Of Civil Government addressed and attacked the government’s tendency to enforce laws and principles to be indisputable, without providing evidence or getting input from the community. He wrote many books and political writings that explain the nature of a legitimate government. …show more content…
If the laws of the government were broken and caused harm, then a tyranny has begun. A tyranny is a form of government in which the leader is extremely possessive and greedy, and often does what is in his own best interest. One who illegitimately exercises their power and breaks the trust bond with the people is definitely a tyrant. Locke explained that constables, authorities with only a small amount of power, made sure that those who disobeyed the law, where punished. He then explained that if a rich man who owned more than he needed, took land or cottages from his poorest neighbor nothing would be done. A man who possesses more than the average man, with things such as wealth, education and power, should know better than to steal from those around him. The point that Locke is trying to get across is that everyone should be governed and treated the equally no matter the status of the person or how much money one has. Enforcing the law to everyone and holding everyone accountable for their actions is how to leaders can govern the people legitimately and can keep the bond of trust between them and the