How Did Plato And Locke Protect Social Good

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Plato, Madison, and Locke reformed people’s thoughts on how governments should be run, Plato takes the side of governing with the intention to protect social good, while Madison and Locke see eye to eye about individual liberty being more important to a government. In Plato’s arguments throughout Article III and Article V of Republic, he makes very radical statements about the limitations that should be put on rulers from birth. As soon as a child is deemed worthy of soon being a guardian they are secluded from others and raised without distraction. Once a guardian becomes a ruler they are not allowed to have a family, own personal property, and are supplied limited money that will “meet the expenses of the year, and no more” (Plato 11). By inserting …show more content…

Madison determines that causes of factions cannot be restrained because it will then take away too much individual liberty. He states that “liberty is to faction what air is to fire” (Madison 13). The outcome of factions can be controlled and reduced by increasing the number of representatives per state to have each faction better heard. Madison is the connection between Plato and Locke because he supports the people having a say in government decisions, therefore, allowing the power of individual liberty influence the social good. Locke has different views than both Madison and Plato, he states that individual liberty is more important because all men are born free in the state of nature and meant to stay free in the eyes of God. Locke states that “God, who hath given the world to men in common, hath also given them reason to make use of it to the best advantage of life” (17). This quote defends Locke’s argument that earth is made for men to use for their liking and well-being. Overall the Government can’t go further than the common good, but they must maintain the rights present in the state of

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