John Locke, John Stuart Mill, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were all influential philosophers who wrote about the issue of political freedom. For Locke, freedom was the natural state of man and the aim of government was to protect freedom. Mill argued that freedom is essential for human happiness and self-realization, while Rousseau believed that freedom was only possible in a society that was based on the principle of general will. All three philosophers agreed that freedom is a fundamental human right and that it is essential for a happy and prosperous society.
The topic of political freedom in a society has been addressed by John Locke, John Stuart Mill, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The “Second Treatise of Government” by John Locke, “On Liberty” by Mill, and “Discourse On the Origin Of Inequality” by Rousseau are important and compelling literary works that while laying out each thinker’s imagined utopia present contrasting ideas on the nature of man and his liberty.
John Locke believed that freedom is a natural right and that political society exists to protect people’s natural rights to life, liberty, and property. He thought that in the state of nature, before people entered into political society, they were free to do whatever they wanted as long as it did not interfere with the freedom of others. People had to follow the law of nature which said that you couldn’t hurt or kill someone else, and you had to respect other people’s property.
However, when people enter into political society, they give up some of their freedom because they agree to follow the laws of that society. The government only has power to do things that are necessary for protecting people’s rights and freedom, such as enforcing the law and punishing people who break it.
John Stuart Mill thought that freedom is the most important thing in a society and that people should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as it does not interfere with the freedom of others. He believed that people have the natural right to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom of choice.
He thought that the government should only interfere with people’s freedom if it is necessary to protect other people’s rights or freedom. For example, the government could interfere with someone’s freedom if they were doing something that was hurting other people or preventing them from being free.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought that freedom is important, but it has to be balanced with equality and justice. He believed that in the state of nature, before people enter into political society, they are free and equal. However, when they enter into political society, some people become more free than others. The government should try to make sure that everyone is as free as possible, but it can only do this if it is based on the general will of the people.
The general will is the idea that all the people in a society should come together and agree on what the government should do. If the government does something that goes against the general will, then it is not really democratic because it is not representing all of the people.
All three thinkers believe in freedom to a certain extent, but they have different ideas about what freedom means and how much freedom people should have in a society. John Locke thought that people should only give up freedom if it is necessary for the protection of their rights and freedom.
John Stuart Mill thought that freedom is the most important thing in a society and that people should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as it does not interfere with the freedom of others. Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought that freedom should be balanced with equality and justice. Each thinker has a different idea about the purpose of political society and what is necessary for a free and just society.
In order to understand how each philosopher views man and the freedom he should have in a political society, it is critical to examine their points of view. John Locke believes that all human beings are “in a state of perfect liberty to order their actions and dispose of their property and person as they think fit, within the limits of the law of nature, without asking leave or depending on the will of any other man.”
He believes that freedom comes from the state of nature, in which each man has a right to defend himself and his property. This right extends to all men, regardless of station or race. For Locke, freedom is the ability to do what one pleases so long as it does not harm another.
John Stuart Mill expands on Locke’s concept of freedom, stating that freedom must include both intellectual and political liberties. Mill defines liberty as “the freedom to do anything which does not interfere with the freedom of others.”2 He argues that, in order for a society to be just, all individuals must have an equal opportunity to exercise their liberties. Mill also believes that freedom is essential for the development of the individual.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau takes a different approach to freedom, arguing that it must be granted by the people. He believes that freedom is not an innate quality, but rather something that is earned through participation in the political process. For Rousseau, freedom is “the power to do everything which does not harm others.”3 He asserts that freedom can only exist in a society in which all members have an equal voice.
Each of these philosophers has a unique view of freedom and its role in political society. Locke believes that freedom comes from nature and should be available to all men. Mill believes that freedom must include both intellectual and political liberties for society to be just. Rousseau believes that freedom must be granted by the people and must be shared equally among all members of society. Each philosopher’s view of free.
John Locke maintains that man is a being who lives in a state of nature and thus exists in a condition of uncontrollable freedom, which is only restrained by the law of nature or reason. Locke does, however, say that man has no right to destroy himself or any other creature he might possess unless there are compelling reasons to do so. Locke emphasizes property rights as an essential component of freedom.
John Stuart Mill believed that freedom is the ability to do what you want as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else. Mill stresses the importance of individuality and self-realization, which can be best pursued in an atmosphere of freedom.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that freedom should be granted only when it doesn’t interfere with the freedom of others. Rousseau felt that civil society creates a sense of dependence and obligation which restricts freedom. He championed the idea of the General Will, which is a collective consciousness or agreement between all citizens in a state, as the basis for political freedom.