John Locke And Niccolo Machiavelli Research Paper

While history continues to be made everyday that goes by, we take a look at three famous philosophers to interpret their ideas. These philosophers include John Locke, Karl Marx, and Niccolo Machiavelli. They all have something in common, which is to observe and form an opinion on the human nature of people and how society works as a whole. Even though all three discuss about the same topic, their ideas are quite different from one another. While Locke and Marx place their opinions on human reasoning, Machiavelli does not. Each of their opinions derived from the actions that people make, such as Locke, who believes that all humans are created equal, Marx who believes that people are consciously good and will do the right thing to balance society, and Machiavelli on the other hand, who believes people are selfish and will act in accordance to their best interest.

John Locke is best seen as the “Father of Classical Liberalism” making him one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers during the 17th-century, considered as the era of modern philosophy. Locke puts his trust in human reasoning because he believes that all humans are born equal, stating that no one has power above another person and that they have the right to commit the actions that each one pleases to do so. In the Second Treatise of Government Locke says, “we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man” (Locke 8). Locke explains how men are reasonable when they make decisions, leaving it entirely up to the person to do as ...

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...e created equal and will act as a civil society with a limited government that will allow order. Marx who believes that people are consciously good and will do the right thing to make society equal for everyone and will abolish social classes in order to prevent exploitation to the working classes around the world. Lastly, Machiavelli believes in the opposite and that people are selfish and will act in accordance to their best interest, and as a result reaches the conclusion that men are better off ruled by a prince who inflicts fear in them rather than love since he believes too much trust cannot be put into the people. As for each individual, for every example given as a piece of evidence, it is clear that Locke represents a form of civil government, Marx suggests the formation of communism, and Machiavelli believes one sole ruler will keep order in his society.