PSC 275 Final Exam questions with
verified answers
How does Locke define political power? Is his definition closer to Machiavelli's or to Aristotle's?
Why do you think so? - correct answer ✔✔the right to make laws for the protection and
regulation of property and these laws are backed by the community for the public good. This is
a closer definition to Machiavelli because although Machiavelli seemed to be an untrustworthy,
deceiving person, he wanted to treat the people fairly, and be for the people. Notes: I take to be
a right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently all less penalities, for the
regulating and preserving of property and all this is only for the public good My thoughts: both
Machiavelli and locke stress private property, but Locke uses God as a basis for his argument
Locke proposes a theoretical "state of nature." Describe it. Why does Locke need this idea for
his political theory - what is he ultimately trying to do that requires him to start with a state of
nature instead of any existing kind of government? - correct answer ✔✔Locke explains the state
of nature as a state of equality in which no one has power over another, and all are free to do as
they please. He notes, however, that this liberty does not equal license to abuse others, and
that natural law exists even in the state of nature. Each individual in the state of nature has the
power to execute natural laws, which are universal. Locke then posits that proof of this natural
law lies in the fact that, even though a person cannot reasonably be under the power of a
foreign king, if a person commits a crime in a foreign country they can still be punished. Locke
states that natural law simply demands that punishment fit the crime--a person in the state of
nature can redress any crime to discourage the offender from repeating it. Locke concludes by
noting that all people are in a state of nature until a special compact or agreement between
them (which he promises to describe later) makes them members of a political society. Locke's
theoretical state of nature is that there are no written laws, everyone has equal freedom, and
everyone has perfect equality. Locke needs this for his political theory because it is the
backbone of just about every government and he states later that the law of nature is reason in
which if everyone uses reason then there will be no conflicts. From my notes: all equal and
independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men
being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infiniently wise maker
, Explain what Locke calls the "law of nature." What is it, how is it enforced, and who enforces it?
Why is enforcement of the law of nature a problem? - correct answer ✔✔The law of nature
according to Locke is essentially reason. Reason allows people to figure out whether someone
deserves something or not. Reason is enforced by everyone. For example, if someone comes
and takes my land, I have every right to take that land back because it was taken from me.
Though, It would not be a reasonable punishment for me to go and kill the person that took my
land if they did not harm me. Enforcing the law of nature is a problem because everyone's
reasoning is different for a particular situation. Some people would want to kill the person who
took land from you and other's would believe that just negotiating to get the land back would
suffice. No one has the right to authorize the destruction of one another. Serve for reparation
and restraint = only reason why someone may lawfully do damage to another. Every man hath a
right to punish the offender, and be the executioner of the law of nature. Civil government is
the proper remedy for the inconveinces of the state of nature. Since the duties of natural law
apply only when our preservation is not threatened
What state does the state of nature degenerate into? How do people leave this state and form a
political state? What are the benefits of doing so? In other words, why would people form a
government if they didn't already live under one? - correct answer ✔✔The state of nature
degenerates into a state of war if there is no agreements and contracts made through the
people. People leave the state and form a political state essentially by wanting to protect their
land. People with large amounts of land want some kind of government to protect their land
rather than continuously defending it. People that want to form a government are the people
that have the money or have the land. Having a civil government is the only way to restrain the
all of the things wrong with human nature and the unfairness of people
People form a government because without agreed contracts and laws there would be war.
People are hoping to form a government that will support their rights and property, so they do
not always have to. The state of nature comes from this as well. Locke believes every one is
entitlted to life, liberty, and property. By forming a government that can enchance your natural
born rights, and punishing those according to their crimes then people can live in more
harmony. By joining in a political state people are giving up some freedoms to protect the other
things they care about and other rights that need to be upheld.
What is the only legitimate source of governmental authority? How does that restrict what
governments can legitimately do? - correct answer ✔✔The only source of legitimate
governmental authority is legislative. It restricts what governments can legitimately do because
there is a separation of powers. Though they are separate, they conjoin to agree on what is just
verified answers
How does Locke define political power? Is his definition closer to Machiavelli's or to Aristotle's?
Why do you think so? - correct answer ✔✔the right to make laws for the protection and
regulation of property and these laws are backed by the community for the public good. This is
a closer definition to Machiavelli because although Machiavelli seemed to be an untrustworthy,
deceiving person, he wanted to treat the people fairly, and be for the people. Notes: I take to be
a right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently all less penalities, for the
regulating and preserving of property and all this is only for the public good My thoughts: both
Machiavelli and locke stress private property, but Locke uses God as a basis for his argument
Locke proposes a theoretical "state of nature." Describe it. Why does Locke need this idea for
his political theory - what is he ultimately trying to do that requires him to start with a state of
nature instead of any existing kind of government? - correct answer ✔✔Locke explains the state
of nature as a state of equality in which no one has power over another, and all are free to do as
they please. He notes, however, that this liberty does not equal license to abuse others, and
that natural law exists even in the state of nature. Each individual in the state of nature has the
power to execute natural laws, which are universal. Locke then posits that proof of this natural
law lies in the fact that, even though a person cannot reasonably be under the power of a
foreign king, if a person commits a crime in a foreign country they can still be punished. Locke
states that natural law simply demands that punishment fit the crime--a person in the state of
nature can redress any crime to discourage the offender from repeating it. Locke concludes by
noting that all people are in a state of nature until a special compact or agreement between
them (which he promises to describe later) makes them members of a political society. Locke's
theoretical state of nature is that there are no written laws, everyone has equal freedom, and
everyone has perfect equality. Locke needs this for his political theory because it is the
backbone of just about every government and he states later that the law of nature is reason in
which if everyone uses reason then there will be no conflicts. From my notes: all equal and
independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men
being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infiniently wise maker
, Explain what Locke calls the "law of nature." What is it, how is it enforced, and who enforces it?
Why is enforcement of the law of nature a problem? - correct answer ✔✔The law of nature
according to Locke is essentially reason. Reason allows people to figure out whether someone
deserves something or not. Reason is enforced by everyone. For example, if someone comes
and takes my land, I have every right to take that land back because it was taken from me.
Though, It would not be a reasonable punishment for me to go and kill the person that took my
land if they did not harm me. Enforcing the law of nature is a problem because everyone's
reasoning is different for a particular situation. Some people would want to kill the person who
took land from you and other's would believe that just negotiating to get the land back would
suffice. No one has the right to authorize the destruction of one another. Serve for reparation
and restraint = only reason why someone may lawfully do damage to another. Every man hath a
right to punish the offender, and be the executioner of the law of nature. Civil government is
the proper remedy for the inconveinces of the state of nature. Since the duties of natural law
apply only when our preservation is not threatened
What state does the state of nature degenerate into? How do people leave this state and form a
political state? What are the benefits of doing so? In other words, why would people form a
government if they didn't already live under one? - correct answer ✔✔The state of nature
degenerates into a state of war if there is no agreements and contracts made through the
people. People leave the state and form a political state essentially by wanting to protect their
land. People with large amounts of land want some kind of government to protect their land
rather than continuously defending it. People that want to form a government are the people
that have the money or have the land. Having a civil government is the only way to restrain the
all of the things wrong with human nature and the unfairness of people
People form a government because without agreed contracts and laws there would be war.
People are hoping to form a government that will support their rights and property, so they do
not always have to. The state of nature comes from this as well. Locke believes every one is
entitlted to life, liberty, and property. By forming a government that can enchance your natural
born rights, and punishing those according to their crimes then people can live in more
harmony. By joining in a political state people are giving up some freedoms to protect the other
things they care about and other rights that need to be upheld.
What is the only legitimate source of governmental authority? How does that restrict what
governments can legitimately do? - correct answer ✔✔The only source of legitimate
governmental authority is legislative. It restricts what governments can legitimately do because
there is a separation of powers. Though they are separate, they conjoin to agree on what is just
