Locke’s Theory of the Commonwealth and Hobbes’s Absolute Sovereignty: A Comparative Analysis of Authority, Consent, and the Origins of Modern Representative Government Introduction The problem of political authority in early modern political thought finds its two most influential articulations in Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan (1651) and John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government (1689). Both thinkers begin … Continue reading Analyse Locke’s theory of the commonwealth in comparison with Hobbes’s conception of absolute sovereignty in the Leviathan. Assess whether Locke’s doctrine of transferring power to the majority can be considered a precursor to modern ideas of representative government.
Tag: Majority Rule
Mill’s Utilitarianism vs. Rights-Based Theories – Can Collective Good Justify Limiting Individual Rights?
John Stuart Mill's philosophy attempts to reconcile utilitarianism with individual rights, emphasizing the need for personal freedoms unless harm to others occurs. While advocating for happiness maximization, he introduces the harm principle to limit state overreach. The essay critiques the balance between collective good and individual rights, highlighting contemporary governance challenges.