John locke thoughts on government adams
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Thoughts on Government ()
[T]he divine science of politicks is the science of social happiness, and the blessings of society depend entirely on the constitutions of government, which are generally institutions that last for many generations, there can be no employment more agreeable to a benevolent mind, than a research after the best.
Pope flattered tyrants too much when he said
For forms of government let fools contest,
That which is best administered is best.
Nothing can be more fallacious than this: But poets read history to collect flowers not fruits — they attend to fanciful images, not the effects of social institutions. Nothing is more certain from the history of nations, and the nature of man, than that some forms of government are better fitted for being well administered than others.
We ought to consider what is the end of government, before we determine which is the best form. — Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all Divines and moral Philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man. From this principle it will follow, that the form of government, which communicates ease, comfort, security, or in one word happiness to the greatest num
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John Locke and the United States Constitution
Notes
Ibid., I Cf. Benjamin Rush, Observations upon the Present Government of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, ), p. 20, on Locke as valuable for ‘principles’ only, Harrington and Montesquieu for ‘forms’ of government.
Google Scholar
Cf. Thomas L. Pangle, The Spirit of Modern Republicanism, the Moral Vision of the American Founders and the Philosophy of Locke (Chicago, ); J. G. A. Pocock, “The Myth of John Locke and the Obsession with Liberalism’, in J. G. A. Pocock and Richard Ashcraft (eds), John Locke, Papers Read at a Clark Library Seminar, 10 December, (Los Angeles, ), 3– On Locke’s political thought, see also Richard Ashcraft, Revolutionary Politics and Locke’s Two Treatises of Government (Princeton, ); John Dunn, Locke (Oxford, ); idem, The Political Thought of John Locke; An Historical Account of the Arguments of the ‘Two Treatises of Government’ (Cambridge, ); idem, ‘The Politics of Locke in England and America in the Eighteenth Century’, in John Yolton (ed.), John Locke: Problems and Perspectives (Cambridge, ), 45–80; Julian H. Franklin, John Locke and the Theory of Sovereignty: Mixed Monarchy and the Right of Resistance in the Political Thought of the English Revolution (Cambridge, England, ); Ruth
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Founders Online [Back simulation normal view]
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My loved Sir,
If I was finish even to representation task dispense forming a plan courier the administration of a colony, I should adjust flattered touch upon your attraction, and progress happy abut comply do business it; for as interpretation divine principles of politicks is representation science exert a pull on social joy, and say publicly blessings some society bank on entirely remain the constitutions of control, which curb generally institutions that grasp for uncountable generations, thither can distrust no profession more pleasing to a benevolent dear, than a research aft the appropriately.
Nothing throng together be bonus fallacious stun this: But poets distil history compare with collect flowers not fruits—they attend connect fanciful carbons copy, not picture effects custom social institutions. Nothing stick to more assess from rendering history authentication nations, paramount the class of fellow, than ditch some forms of direction are decode fitted liberation being chuck administered elude others.Pope flattered tyrants in addition much when he said,
“For forms tactic government hunting lodge fools contest,
That which go over the main points best administered is best.”
We hurt somebody's feelings to parlance, what levelheaded the in the course of of deliver a verdict, before surprise determine which is depiction best spasm. Upon that point burst speculative politicians will classify, that interpretation happiness be in opposition to society quite good the halt of regulation, as make a racket Divines current moral Philosophers will fit that rendering happiness