nother. For example, if a person commits a crime, the people have the right to punish him. If one man kills another man’s sheep, then the people have the right to kill one of his sheep—and that is justice not crime. Locke felt that man, even without civilization, will begin forming contracts and carry the importance of justice and equality.Human beings decide to form a society out of the state of nature because there must be unity among men in order to protect one another. Locke says that men carry self-love, partiality towards friends and family, ill-natured intentions, passion, and revenge—all reasons that a society cannot govern itself. In order to uphold the basic rudimental values of nature, government is the only way to ensure and secure them. The next question Locke answers is his postulation deciding the best form of government. He feels that men form a government under the rule of an individual that is selected by the people. The reason the authority must be selected is because for a government to work, voluntary relinquishment of certain rights must occur. Because of this act, no society would give up a right unless they felt it was a better trade-off. A democracy offers enough benefits for giving up some rights in order to gain security and justice. The people for many reasons should choose the ruler. Besides offering a better end-result, it best represents the people’s ideas. Because the authority is also composed of members of that society, the interest of the betterment of the whole is always at hand. Locke’s governmental system has the ability to possess several powers, which it holds through the people. The ruler has the supreme power and obligation to protect its subject’s life, freedom, and property. The branches of government are always in check with one another, creating a system of checks and balances. All aspects of the government are steered towards a direction ...
