The Proper Role of a Ruler and the Government Essay

Over the centuries, many political philosophers, historians, and thinkers have ventured to identify the ideal form of government: a theory which truly takes into account human nature as a whole and applies it accordingly. Human nature, when looked at holistically, is essentially good - men will not annihilate each other if left without a ruler, but motivation, protection, and some degree of rights must be accommodated in order to allow a state to thrive to its greatest capacity. Thus a ruler should be judged by his ability to protect the people and secure their rights, and he should come to power by the collective consent of the people. The perfect government is one in which the ruler has only the power which allows him to aid the people†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, John Locke highlights another critical matter: that absolute power should never be attained by a ruler because such rule may only lead to consequences of disadvantage to the people. He states, â€Å"Whensoe ver [...] the legislature shall [...] grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other, an absolute power over their lives, liberties, and estates of the people, by this breach of trust they forfeit the power the people had put into their hands for quite contrary ends, and it [is transferred] to the people [...]† This passage shows that whenever a ruler attempts to gain power greater than that which the people had entrusted him with, and so attempts to become an absolute monarch, society has the right and obligation to overthrow him, and return power to a government that will not seek to abuse it. Even such drastic measures as rebellion must be taken in order to assure that rulers have only the power that allows them to protect and assist the people because when an absolute monarchy is instituted, only the ruler decides on any matter, whether those decisions will be for or against the people. Such a scenario must be prevented at all costs. The Declaration of Independence a lso emphasizes this point when it states, But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is theirShow MoreRelatedEssay about Plato vs. Machiavelli1695 Words   |  7 PagesPlato vs. Machiavelli A longstanding debate in human history is what to do with power and what is the best way to rule. Who should have power, how should one rule, and what its purpose should government serve have always been questions at the fore in civilization, and more than once have sparked controversy and conflict. The essential elements of rule have placed the human need for order and structure against the human desire for freedom, and compromising between the two has never been easyRead MoreThe Proper Role of Government Essay1229 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophers have struggled with determining the proper role of government. 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