Keystones of Democracy: The Second Treatise of Government, The Social Contract and Rights of Man

by Thomas Paine, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Book Overview

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760775133
• ISBN13: 9780760775134
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Length: 498 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Enlightening

Keystones of Democracy is a compilation of three important works: John Locke's The Second Treatise of Government, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Social Contract and Thomas Paine's The Rights of Man. Their works are worth reading, especially for those who appreciate or who desire to know more about the many influences that inspired our nation's founders in crafting our constitution and the government it created. However, this spreading of republican thought was for all people. John Locke delves into the nature and purpose of societies formed to protect the properties and rights of the many. Locke uses the term property quite often. While great discussion is focused on land, this term also encompasses the possessions and liberties given to each individual. The commonwealth as he calls it, is an agreement among the many to form a society in which government bodies and leaders, found in the legislature and the executive, are bound to promulgate and carry out the laws necessary for the common good. There are many other issues touched upon in Locke's Treatise, including slavery, paternal power, the powers and limits of political leaders, the legalities of conquests and so forth. Locke also declares that citizens can defend their rights in the face of despotic or tyrannical rule. I saw both liberal and conservative elements in Locke's treatise. Next in line is Rousseau's Social Contract. I must admit, I did not find Rousseau an easy read, at least on many things. I found Locke to be a little more straight forward, though difficult at times. I think to sum up the theme in this work is the centrality of the general will, as Rousseau called it. This is more than the interest of one individual or a faction; it's the will of all in that society. Any self-interested, particular will, is a threat to the vitality and necessity of following the general will. This general will is too be followed and represented by those entrusted to lead the country in the enacting and enforcing of the laws. Rousseau's thoughts on the different forms of government, the roles of the legislator and the executive (also discussed by Locke), previous republics and other forms of government (with great focus on the Roman Republic which he seemed to admire),the role of religion on civic society and so forth are mentioned. The third and final work is Thomas's Paine's the Rights of Man. Paine had an ability to clearly articulate issues that could easily be lost in the language of other thinkers, and then bring these ideas to a level in which the common people (like me) could understand, as he did in Common Sense. In this work, Paine stoutly defended the actions and principles of the French Revolution. Throughout this work, Paine offered a rebuttal to England's Edmund Burke, who while seen as a former friend of the American cause, evidently did not support the French cause. Paine passionately argues the rights inherent to man, as he saw coming to fruition in America and in France, especiall