Locke (discussion based review)

Question 1

Identify when and where Locke was born

Answer 1

August 29, 1632; Wrington, Bristol in England

Question 2

Identify when Locke died and his situation

Answer 2

October 4, 1704; Locke never married and never had a family

Question 3

Identify and explain what Locke meant by equality leads to consent

Answer 3

Locke meant that all men are by nature created free and equal by God. And because God did not choose anyone to be a nature natural leader. Political authority of one over another therefore, can only be made possible if this is based on consent.

Question 4

Identify the three elements of Locke’s State of Nature

Answer 4

1) Individuals
2) Natural Law
3) Natural Rights

Question 5

Identify the two elements required to form Locke’s State of Nature

Answer 5

Natural Law + Natural Rights

Question 6

Identify the three things that describes Locke’s individual

Answer 6

1) Free and Equal
2) Follow the natural law
3) Enjoy natural rights

Question 7

Identify and explain Natural Law according to Locke

Answer 7

Like Aquinas, Locke sees natural as God’s moral law. It is therefore comprehensible by human reason and binding in conscience. Therefore, for Locke, nural law constitutes and protects the natural rights.

Question 8

Identify and explain the three natural rights of Humans

Answer 8

1. Right to to Life = this is Hobbes’ right to self defense
2. Right to liberty = right to govern one’s affairs
3. Right to property = right to own the fruits of our own labor

Question 9

Identify what is Locke’s state of nature

Answer 9

Locke’s state of nature is rational but imprecise

Question 10

Identify why Locke’s state of nature is rational

Answer 10

Locke’s state of nature is rational because because all natural law is God’s moral law and therefore can only be rational.

Question 11

Identify the three reasons why Locke’s state of nature is imprecise

Answer 11

Locke’s state of nature is imprecise because:
1) There are too many judges thus leading to the problem of having too many conflicting voices
2) Not everyone respects the natural rights of others
3) Since not everyone respects the natural rights of others, then there is the problem of enforceability of the natural law

Question 12

It is what Hobbes’ believe men live according to

Answer 12

For Hobbes’, men live according to fear

Question 13

It is what Locke’s believe men live according to

Answer 13

For Locke, men live according to reason

Question 14

For Hobbes, state & society are created in what kind of way?

Answer 14

For Hobbes, state & society are created simultaneously

Question 15

For Locke, state & society are created in what kind of way?

Answer 15

For Locke, state & society are created in a protracted way

Question 16

Identify what is needed to create a society according to Locke? How does this defer from Hobbes?

Answer 16

Locke stated that to create a society once must have unanimous vote. On the other hand, Hobbes believed that a society can be created through simply an agreement among the people to live together

Question 17

Identify what is needed to create a state according to Locke?

Answer 17

For Locke, you need to create a society but simply having a majority vote

Question 18

Identify what is needed to create laws according to Locke

Answer 18

For Locke, you need to create a law through representation. However it is important to note that laws are there not to replace natural law but mean to give precision to natural law

Question 19

Identify and explain what kind of power Locke’s state has. Compare it with Hobbes’ state power

Answer 19

For Locke’s state, power is limited. It is limited because there is a distinction between the executive and the legislature. On the other hand, Hobbes’ state of power is absolute because there is no distinction between the executive and the legislative

Question 20

Identify the two reasons as to why Locke’s state has a limited power?

Answer 20

Locke’s state has a limited power because:

1. The executive and the legislative power must be under 2 separate organs. Therefore, executive can only execute but cannot enact laws while legislative can only enact laws but not execute them.
2. The state has only jurisdiction in the public sphere and not in the private sphere. as there are limited areas where state can better protect natural rights.

Question 21

Identify the two roles that Locke’s state has to play

Answer 21

1. to secure public framework for a higher level of observance of natural rights.
2. central role of the state is legislation

Question 22

Compare the difference between Locke’s and Hobbes’ role of the state

Answer 22

Hobbes’ role of the state is there to remedy the absence of moral agreement among men in the state of nature, and therefore replacing individual subjectivity. Locke’s state on the other hand is not there to replace individual subjectivity but rather to guarantee individual subjective judgement through a public framework (i.e. through human legislation)

Question 23

Explain why for Locke the central role of the state is legislation

Answer 23

For Locke, the central role of the state is legislation because it serves as an institutional device separating a legitimate government from an illegitimate government.

Question 24

Identify the rights given up and retained according to Locke

Answer 24

Rights given up to executive and legislative components of the natural rights. Rights retained are right to life, right to liberty, and right to property

Question 25

Explain why Locke is a full blown liberal

Answer 25

Locke is a full blown liberal because he argues for liberal means for liberal ends unlike Hobbes' who argues for absolute means for liberal ends.

Question 26

Identify the difference between liberal means and liberal ends

Answer 26

Liberal means means when there is a limited government - separation between the executive and the legislative as well as the separation between the public and the private sphere. On the other hand, liberal ends is overriding priority is the individual rights (i.e., individual subjectivity)

Question 27

Identify and explain the relationship of the state and man according to Locke

Answer 27

For Locke, the relationship between man and state is negative because state is there to give precision to the imprecise nature of man understood in the state of nature.

Question 28

Identify and explain the relationship of the society and man according to Locke

Answer 28

For Locke, the relationship between man and society is negative because the society is the price an individual pays to better safeguard the individuals natural rights