Man puts himself into a society due to necessity and inclinations placed in him by God. Man and woman are together mainly because of the necessity for their cooperation to raise children. Slaves cannot be a part of civil society. The purpose of political society is to preserve the property and punish offenders. The only way to achieve a true civil society is for men to give their executive power up to the public therefore putting them “out of a state of nature into that of a common-wealth.” History proves that absolute power does not produce good rulers. A monarchy can’t be a civil society because “no man in civil society can be exempted from the laws of it.” Laws must be determined by the majority of citizens. The origins of government can be found in the relationship of a father in a family. In history most rulers were elected on their ability in war time. Since “a child is born a subject of no country or government” every man is free to reject the form of society that he is born under. He must, however, accept and obey the laws of the land he is currently in this is called “tacit consent.” Man gives up his individual natural freedom in order preserve his property and to punish offenders. All men are bound to the law of nature, even legislatures.
Quote:
“the state of nature and civil society are one and the same thing, which I have never yet found any one so great a patron of anarchy as to affirm.”
Question:
Would Locke’s interpretation of the Israelites rejection of Saul line up scripturally?
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