Locke

Question 1

What are natural rights according to Locke?

Answer 1

Natural rights are fundamental rights inherent to all individuals.

Question 2

What are the three branches of government proposed by Locke?

Answer 2

The three branches of government are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Question 3

What is Locke’s view on property?

Answer 3

Locke believed that property is a natural extension of self-ownership.

Question 4

What does self-ownership mean in Locke’s philosophy?

Answer 4

Self-ownership refers to the idea that individuals have ownership over themselves and their actions.

Question 5

What type of democracy does Locke advocate for?

Answer 5

Locke advocates for representative democracy.

Question 6

What is liberty according to Locke?

Answer 6

Liberty, according to Locke, is the freedom to act according to one’s own will, within the bounds of the law and without infringing on the rights of others.

Question 7

Is Locke operating with a positive or negative notion of liberty?

Answer 7

Locke operates with a negative notion of liberty, emphasizing freedom from interference.

Question 8

Why does Locke believe that division into exactly those 3 branches (legislative, executive and judicial) is the best?

Answer 8

Locke believes that this division prevents the concentration of power and protects individual rights.

Question 9

What are Locke’s thoughts on democracy?

Answer 9

Locke supports a form of democracy that is based on the consent of the governed and protects individual rights.

Question 10

Why is property so important in Locke’s philosophy?

Answer 10

Property is important because it is a natural extension of individual labor and is essential for personal freedom and security.

Question 11

How does Locke’s political philosophy ideas compare to those of Rousseau?

Answer 11

Locke emphasizes individual rights and property, while Rousseau focuses on the collective will and social equality.

Question 12

How does Locke’s political philosophy ideas compare to those of Hobbes?

Answer 12

Locke advocates for a government that protects individual rights, whereas Hobbes supports a strong, centralized authority to prevent chaos.

Question 13

How does Locke’s political philosophy ideas compare to those of Plato?

Answer 13

Locke values individual rights and empirical knowledge, while Plato emphasizes ideal forms and the role of philosopher-kings.

Question 14

What is the state of nature according to John Locke?

Answer 14

A state of perfect freedom where all men can order their actions and dispose of their possessions as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature.

Question 15

What does John Locke say about equality in the state of nature?

Answer 15

All men are equal, with no one having more power or jurisdiction than another, as they are all born with the same advantages of nature.

Question 16

What is the law of nature in Locke’s philosophy?

Answer 16

It governs the state of nature, obliging everyone to not harm another in their life, health, liberty, or possessions.

Question 17

What is the main reason men leave the state of nature?

Answer 17

The enjoyment of freedom in the state of nature is uncertain and exposed to the invasion of others, prompting men to seek society for mutual preservation.

Question 18

What is the chief end of men uniting into commonwealths?

Answer 18

The preservation of their property.

Question 19

What is lacking in the state of nature that leads to the formation of governments?

Answer 19

An established law, a known and indifferent judge, and power to enforce judgments.

Question 20

What powers do men give up when they join a political society?

Answer 20

The power to do whatever they think fit for their preservation and the power to punish crimes against the law of nature.

Question 21

What is the role of the legislative power in a commonwealth?

Answer 21

To govern by established laws for the common good and to secure every individual’s property.

Question 22

What right do people retain in a constituted commonwealth?

Answer 22

The supreme power to remove or alter the legislative if it acts contrary to the trust reposed in it.

Question 23

What happens if the legislative power neglects its trust?

Answer 23

The trust is forfeited, and the power devolves back to the people, who may place it anew for their safety.

Question 24

What is John Locke’s conception of human nature?

Answer 24

Locke saw humans as rational, cooperative, and capable of recognizing natural law. In the state of nature, individuals enjoy inherent natural rights to life, liberty, and property. However, this state is vulnerable to the actions of wrongdoers, making governance necessary.

Question 25

What is Locke’s conception of the social contract?

Answer 25

Locke argued that individuals voluntarily enter a social contract to better protect their natural rights. The government acts as a neutral arbiter that enforces laws and resolves disputes. If the government violates these rights, the people retain the right to insurrection.

Question 26

What are the three branches of government proposed by Locke?

Answer 26

1. Legislative Branch: Creates laws for the public good.
2. Executive Branch: Implements and enforces laws.
3. Judicial Branch: Interprets and applies laws to specific cases.

Question 27

What is Locke’s argument for representative democracy?

Answer 27

Locke advocated for representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives to act on their behalf. This ensures government remains grounded in the consent of the governed while allowing for efficient lawmaking.

Question 28

Why does Locke emphasize the legislative branch?

Answer 28

Locke emphasized the legislative branch because it derives from the people’s natural power to make rules. By electing representatives, citizens retain their sovereignty indirectly, and laws reflect their collective will.

Question 29

What is Locke’s conception of liberty?

Answer 29

Locke emphasized negative liberty—freedom from interference by others. Laws protect liberty by preventing harm and securing rights.

Question 30

TRUE/FALSE

Hobbes argues that the natural equality of men in terms of strength and intelligence leads to universal peace, as no one has an inherent advantage over others.

Answer 30

FALSE

Question 31

TRUE/FALSE

In Hobbes’ view, once a social contract is established, individuals can still break the covenant if the sovereign becomes tyrannical, as long as they have the power to do so.

Answer 31

FALSE

Question 32

TRUE/FALSE Hobbes believes that the sovereign in the commonwealth must have absolute power, as any limitation on the sovereign’s authority would lead to the breakdown of peace and security.

Answer 32

TRUE

Question 33

TRUE/FALSE According to Hobbes, in the state of nature, men are always motivated by the fear of death, and this fear alone drives them to seek peace and form covenants.

Answer 33

FALSE

Question 34

TRUE/FALSE Hobbes considers “justice” to be a natural virtue that exists in the state of nature and is based on a moral obligation to keep promises, even without a sovereign.

Answer 34

FALSE

Question 35

Critiques of Locke

Answer 35

1) property and inequality. Locke’s theory of property has been widely critiqued for justifying inequality.

2) theoretical and practical applications.
Locke’s theory is often seen as abstract and idealistic, with limited practical guidance on how to create and maintain a stable government. His notion of the “social contract” assumes that people will voluntarily enter into a collective agreement to form a government, but critics argue that in practice, political authority is rarely based on a formal contract. Additionally, Locke’s ideas on revolution—arguing that people have the right to overthrow a government that violates their rights—are difficult to apply in practice, especially in cases where governments overstep their bounds gradually or in ways that are not easily recognizable to the public.