Age of Enlightenment - Essay Example

Locke: The second treatise of local government

The author of this article conveys that man by nature is free and has no obligation to be subject to anybody’s will. He neglects the idea of government and the punishment imposed by religious concepts. He mentions that all people are in this world naturally and hence all have equal rights on the properties of the world. People have the right to work on the properties provided by nature and own the fruits of their labor. From the nature perspective, no one is higher than the other. The author suggests that human beings belonging to the same species should not be subjected to discrimination and slavery but to equal freedom.

Adam Smith – Wealth of Smithionsons

The author in this book explains about feudalism and bureaucracy existed during the industrial revolution in Europe. He beloved that feudalism spreading in Europe could hinder industrial growth and the only thing that could save it is socialism. He believes that development is due to the specialization of labor and this only can give material well-being. He mentions that self-love is the reason for prosperity in man which is a nature only found in human beings. He claims that a market is a place where individuals cooperate with each other and where the talents of individuals are shared for material benefit. His theory says that the value of a thing sold in a market is the proportion of labor put into the making of it and brought into the market.

Comparison of the am'skLocke'sd Adam theory

The similarity in both LockLocke'se and Adam’s propositions is that both believe in the human rights of people. They believed in the labor of human beings and the value attached to it and right attached to it. Both these authors were in support of the laborers and working men. Both authors talk about the discrimination of the government toward the poor and needy. They both talk about the property of nature and the law of nature. Locke suggests that “Adam and Eve, and after them, all parents were, by the law of nature, under an obligation to preserve, nourish and educate the children, they had begotten”. In a way, both favor socialism and equal distribution of power, property, and rights to people. They demand that in a natural state, people have the right to do what they wanted to and in any case should not be subjected to slavery. Natural liberty was a central theme in both of their writing. Locke claims that the government is formed in order to protect property and Adam Smith also talks about labor and property which is the wealth of a nation. Both authors believe in a market that works freely and without any discrimination. Smith believed that society functioned in a capitalist way and mostly wanted to exploit the laborers and working class. Smith mentions that “There is no art which one government sooner learns of another than that of draining money from the pockets of the people”. Smith claims that property is the effort of the working class and the same is said by Locks that property is labor mixed with an object. Both of them emphasize less on a government that disregards the human rights and interests of common men.

Locke mainly discusses a community where individuals have free interest and acquired natural freedom. He mainly focuses on human rights and property. On the other hand, Adam Smith focuses on labor and its value and on the division of labor. According to Smith “In general, if any branch of trade, or any division of labor, be advantageous to the public, the freer and more general the competition, it will always be the more so”. Locke mainly mentions the Government and their abusive way of governing the people. According to Locke “The legislature acts against the trust reposed in them when they endeavor to invade the property of the subject and to make themselves, or any part of the community, masters, or arbitrary disposers of the lives, liberties or fortunes of the people” He claims that instead of representing the people, government represent themselves and their interests. Instead, Smith discusses a capitalist society and a group of people owning the wealth and fruits of labor achieved by common men. Locke views God as the creator and the owner of all property on earth hence giving equal rights to people to own it. Whereas Adam believes that God is a commander and it is a product arising due to the social inclination of people. Smith observed that people work according to their self-interest and nations’ betterment depends on this. Smith argues that the wealth of the nation is also the wealth of the government and that of the people. Whereas Locke admits that government can come forward to protect the rights of property but the right of property belongs to the person who works on it. Locke believes in limiting power whereas Smith is not against the power of government which bestows equal justice to people.

The writing's impact on the modern world -The writings of both Locke and Smith can have a significant impact on the modern world as now we are living in an era where politicians are corrupted and exploiting common men. When people read these writing they get awareness and understand the real purpose of government and their own rights on property and labor. It also has a major effect on government leaders who exploit people for their labor and hard-earned money to think over and correct their deeds. In total, these writing have an impact on both citizens and political leaders of the country.