John Lockes Social Contract Theory

John Lockes Social Contract Theory The agreement of the society to surrender its rights partially or entirely to the ruling government or authority is a social contract. The social contract is the basis of societys moral values today because it gives government the liberty to decide what is right and wrong depending on each societys socialization structure, all in the name of the rule of law. The social contract theory has been in existence for a very long time, right from the days of Plato (380BC) to John Rawls of the 20th century. The social contract bears the responsibility of both citizen and government and is introduced to protect an already peaceful society, or to form one. It is associated with modern political theory. Idealists and liberalist such as Thomas Hobbes, Jean Jacques-Rousseau and John Locke have influenced constitutions around the world a great deal especially the West with their theories. The social contract is generally supposed to provide justice and security to citizens within its boundaries. The state of nature is a place envisioned by a philosopher, prior to the existence of the social contract. The social contract is preceded after a philosopher has given his view of the state of nature. The state of nature does not have any moral or physical structures in place. It has to be envisioned. In the state of nature, there are no laws in place and no civilization. Man is either described as one who lives in harmony with his fellow men or fights for his survival. Idealist philosophers such as Immanuel Kant and Jean Jacques Rousseau argue that, since man is rational, in his state of nature there would be co-operation in existence and therefore his social contract must embody laws that are rational. On the other hand, realist philosophers such as Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes disagree with the optimistic notion of human beings. They argue that human beings are se lf-centred and would promote their interest first in all situations; therefore their state of nature would be chaotic and disorganised. The survivors of such a place would be only the strong or swift ones, therefore his social contract should allow irrational decisions to be taken by the head of state for the greater good of the people. The social contract simply implies that the people give up some rights to a government and/or other authority in order to accept or jointly preserve social order. John Locke, a liberal philosopher of the 18th century and the author of the famous and influential book, The Second Treatise of Government pioneered the need for the respect of human rights. Locke begins his theory by visualizing a state of nature that human beings live in before agreeing to the social contract. In Lockes state of nature, there is freedom, but not entirely because he claims that the law of nature governing this estate is from God. Rights and liberties are respected because he views human beings as rational. In the event where human beings react irrationally to negative human behavior, Locke suggests the need for a social contract, an agreement between the people of the state of nature to have an authority that would ensure justice and equality. One may react irrationally when meting out a punishment to an offender; another person may also intervene and punish the offender. To prevent a biased form of justice being carried out, Locke suggests an agreement among the pe ople to form a government that would make laws that would ensure equal justice for all and protection of rights found in the state of nature. In the state of nature there is no political authority in existence, however, moral values do exist. The Law of Nature, which is on Lockes view the basis of all morality, and given to us by God, commands that we not harm others with regards to their life, health, liberty, or possessions (par. 6).  [i]  Life, health and liberty are some of the fundamental rights that are found in the state of nature. The social contract which Locke suggests, must respect these basic human rights which are found in the state of nature John Lockes State and Law of Nature A state also of equality, wherein all the power of jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦should also be amongst one another, without subordination or subjection, unless the lord and master of them all should, by any manifest declaration of his will, set one above another, and confer on him, by an evident and clear appointment, an undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty.  [ii]   -Second Treatise of Government, Locke To understand the state of nature, society must be viewed without any present authority, ruling monarch or government. It contains no houses, buildings, farmlands, culture or social amenities. John Lockes state of nature assures equality for all men. He believes that we will not entirely be free in the state of nature because we will be bound by the laws of nature. The law of nature which compels every and reason, which is that being 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 infinitely wise Maker.  [iii]  This law of nature enables the perceptive that, since we are all Gods creation, automatically we are all equal; therefore we have no right to take to take anothers life or possessions. In the state of nature, when no mans rights are being invaded then the law of nature is being observed. However, the law of nature allows an offender to be punished for the offence he committed. Everyone bound by the laws of nature have the right to punish transgressors of the law. This is because the law ensures equality and therefore it cannot appoint one person who would obtain a senior role to carry out justice. The problem with allowing everyone to be an executioner of the law is that a biased sentence could be carried out since emotions could come in the way. John Locke identifies that self-love will make men partial to themselves and their friends which will not reflect a true and just system and ill nature and revenge will carry them too far in punishing others and hence nothing but confusionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ To solve this problem, Locke proposes a social contract. The Social Contract The social contract he proposes is an agreement between the citizens and the ruling government. It is a solution to the problems of the state of nature. The government in power must be concerned with the well-being of the citizen. It must preserve his rights and punish the transgressors of the law. Such a government can be described as a legitimate government. An illegitimate government would be the one that would fail to protect the natural rights of its citizens and violate the rights of its subjects. Locke states that when a civil society is popularly entered into, it cannot become a dictatorship because power must come from above but legitimacy must come from below.  [iv]   This explains the reason why Locke argues that a society has the right to do away with a government that is not obeying the laws of the land by being involved in negative practices such as cheating, corruption, torture and nepotism. This provides the grounds for a legitimate rebellion. The government can be removed from power through the legitimate processes such as elections. Lockes arguments for the social contract and for the right of citizens to revolt against their king were enormously influential on the democratic revolutions that followed, especially on Thomas Jefferson, and the founders of the United States  [v]  look for more on the tacit consent Flaws of the Social Contract One of Lockes flaws is his contradiction of how exactly we are obliged to be a part of the social contract. He first discusses how the first citizens become a part of the contract by individual consent and how subsequent generations become a part of it by tacit consent. It does not hold because then it would be unconsciously forced unto the subsequent generations if they are not asked their opinion. For a society that is supposed to ensure freedom and equality, it is violating the rights of its citizens. Lockes view that permanent citizenship depends wholly on the individuals consent -and even express consent- is both unhistorical and contrary to all legal doctrine as any instructed modern reader will easily perceive.  [vi]  This is how Frederick Pollock views Lockes flaw of the consent in his book. Locke does not talk about what the ruling government must do if the citizens relegate their side of the contract. It cannot be applicable in the pursuit of happiness because it does not defend the minority or those living out of it. Generations tacit consent: agreeing to the unknown. Describe contract.;authority,rights of the people.what rights are they giving up? What will keep the contract binding? f

Autobiographical Essay Essay

As far back as I can remember no one in my family talked about heritage or when and how we came to America. When I would ask questions the only answers that I ever received were, we are Indian, and that was from my fathers side of the family. My mother’s side of the family however was a different story. I have been told that I am part German and I am going to give as much information that I have of both sides of my Mother and Fathers families. After talking to my mother and learning where my ancestors came from I have a better understanding of my own culture, beliefs and biases. To begin my story I will tell about my 2x grandfather on my Mothers side who according to www.cohrs.de â€Å"came to America from Germany he sailed from Bremen Germany to Galveston Texas on in 1853†. He met and married my 2x great grandmother in 1853 and together they had seven children of whom my great grandfather was one. My great grandfather moved to Arizona where he met and married my great grand mother and they had four Children of whom my grandfather was the youngest. My grandfather met and married my grandmother in 1929, and together they had eight children in which my mother is one of the three youngest. For my grandmother the only information that I have is that she was born in Alabama, and from everything that I have heard from my mother, aunt, and my uncles, my ancestors were hard working people who taught their children good morals and values. They loved all people regardless of their race, religion, or color. However they believed that races did not go outside of their race to marry and have children. They believed that god and family came first and they would help anyone who needed help. This leads me to my ancestors on my father’s side of my family the only information that I have been able to find is, that my grandfather was Native-American his mother, my great grandmother passed away when he was just a baby and family members had to take care of him. He met and married my grandmother and together they had twelve children in which my father is one of the oldest. While I do not have a lot of information about my father’s ancestor I do know that they were and are a very loving hard  working family that put God and family first. However they can be very closed minded when it comes to people of different race, gender, and culture. They can be very opinionated and while they will be nice to all people they are very cautious around people that are not family. I believe that ancestors past and present have help to shape the person that I ma today. I have learned to use my critical thinking to form my own beliefs and I am so proud to be living in America where I can make the right choses for me. I want to be able to give my future student the best education that I can and from what I have learned about my culture I know that I will be able to help my students make the right choses in getting to know all cultures and traditions before making the wrong decisions of treating others badly. References Descendants of Karl August Riefkohl, Retrieved 11-27-13 from, http://www.cohrs.de/gene/riefkohl/pedigrees/5a.html

Gap Inc. in 2010: Is the Turnaround Strategy Working? Essay

Executive Summary Gap Inc. is facing the problem of decreasing sales in the family clothing store industry. Included in this paper is a detailed analysis of the family clothing store industry. This external analysis has showed that the industry is extremely competitive and difficult to make a profit due to low profit margins. The internal analysis of the company shows that although sales have decreased, Gap’s financial performance strengthens every year. Their profitability, leverage, and liquidity ratios have improved steadily every year which helps the company maintain a somewhat strong business situation. There are several possible alternatives for Gap Inc. to help increase sales and market share including maintain status quo, create new product lines and segment their target markets, and expand company operated stores in foreign markets which is the suggested course of action. Problem Statement The problem facing Gap Inc. is their decreasing sales and market share in the family clothing store industry due to the decreasing popularity of their clothing. Background and History Gap Inc. has several brands including The Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Piperlime. Gap Inc. was founded in 1969 by Doris and Don Fisher. They started out selling clothing that targeted teenagers in San Francisco and expanded their clothing line to include active wear in 1970. The company went public in 1976. Gap Inc.’s clothing was popular in the 1990s and as their clothes were becoming popular and sales were increasing rapidly, so was their debt due to expansion. As their long-term debt increased, the quality of their clothing decreased. By 2000, their clothing style was not popular. The company had a few CEOs including Millar Drexler who was fired due to decreasing sales, Paul Pressler who resigned due to the company’s weak performance and he was replaced by Glen Murphy. Pressler’s turnaround strategy for Gap included reducing long-term debt. Murphy’s turnaround strategy was to expand business internationally and improve on the style and design of the clothing. PESTE Analysis Political Forces * Foreign governments; can cause delays or stall shipments by imposing new rules. * Better labour standards in foreign countries could cause an increase in textile prices. * The World Trade Organization. Another Multi-Fiber Arrangement could be imposed in the future. Economical Forces * Recession – consumers more cautious of prices * Interest rates will affect a store’s ability to afford loans for expansions * Exchange rates will affect costs to those companies that are importing textiles from foreign countries. Social Forces * Consumer’s tastes change frequently in the fashion industry. * Aging population – as the baby boomers age, their fashion needs will be different. * Obesity rates rising, demand for plus size clothing rising * Sweat shops/poor working conditions for employees of suppliers in foreign countries can cause bad publicity Technological Factors * The internet is becoming a popular way to sell merchandise. * New software and advancements in IT make it easier and more efficient for companies to track inventory and make the ordering process easier. Environmental Factors * People are more environmentally conscious and want to ensure companies are committed to green practices and are being socially responsible. * Clothing manufacturers can be creating a large amount of pollution due to their operations, especially if running a large plant. Porter’s Five Forces Threat of Rivalry Gap Inc.’s competition includes Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Ross Stores, and several small local companies. The threat of rivalry is high due to: * Several competitors; thousands of small local and regional retailers. * No cost to buyers to switch brands. * Low profit margins; estimated to be only 3.4% in 2008. Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants is moderate to high due to: * Several possible new entrants, especially those operating specialty clothing stores. These include stores such as Reitmans who target women or H&M and Zara that target young adults. * Product differentiation and brand loyalty will make it more difficult to enter. Threat from Substitutes The threat from substitutes is high due to: * Several good substitutes are available such as: * Make your own clothes * Shop at specialty clothing stores * Buy second hand from flea markets, yard sales, or second hand stores * Department stores/big box retailers such as Sears or Wal-Mart. * No cost to buyers to switching to a substitute. * Prices are comparable or cheaper for substitutes and maintain quality Supplier Bargaining Power Supplier bargaining power is slightly higher than normal due to: * Limited supplies, potential for shortages * Products are differentiated in quality and style, however, could easily be duplicated by another supplier. * No cost to buyers to switch suppliers; however, may not be possible if there are shortages. Buyers Bargaining Power Buyers bargaining power are fairly high due to: * Low cost to switch suppliers * Products are differentiated in quality in style, however, could be easily duplicated. This increases buyers bargaining power. * Buyers are price sensitive – low profit margins and most of their purchases rely on third party suppliers from foreign countries. Overall, the family clothing store industry is not a very attractive industry. With all competitive forces being moderate to high, it would be very difficult for a new entrant to make a decent profit. Factors Driving Change * Entry of foreign companies * Regulatory influences and government policy changes. Regulations for importing textiles from foreign markets could cause an increase in prices for family clothing stores. * Changing social issues – increasing obesity rates * Changes in lifestyle – people becoming health conscious which affects their clothing needs. These factors driving change have the potential to decrease the demand for the family clothing store industry. As demand decreases, competition will become more intense. The combined impact of these factors could lead to lower industry profitability, especially if the companies cannot turnover inventory. Key Success Factors * Location * Brand loyalty * Keeping current with fashion trends These key success factors will determine how successful the companies in the family clothing industry are. Location is important because customers want to shop close to home. Companies must build brand loyalty to keep their customers coming back. Most importantly, if the company is not staying current with fashion trends, their customers will shop at a store that is offering the latest fashions.

How to Get Rid of a Musty Smell in Books

Have your beloved old books developed a musty smell? Prevention is key to making sure that books dont develop a bad odor. If you store your books in a cool, dry location, theres a much better chance that youll avoid much of the bad odor that old books can develop. Despite your best efforts, though, you may find mold or mildew on your books. Unfortunately, this may make them smell musty. Below, youll find some tips on how to get rid of the bad odor from your books. Consider Where You Are Storing Your Books If you are storing books in a  basement, garage, attic  or storage unit, youll want to address the storage issue before trying to remove the odor, mildew, and mold from your books. If you get rid of the bad smell and then put them right back in a damp storage location, youll see the problem come right back. Too much moisture causes mildew and mold and too much heat can cause the pages to dry out and crumble -- move your books to a cool, dry location. Protect Them with Dust Jackets Dust jackets protect the book covers, helping to keep the moisture away from the book. But a dust jacket is not a miracle cure. Even if you use dust jackets, be aware of where you are storing your books,  and avoid moist, hot areas, which can increase the likelihood that theyll develop bad-smelling mold or mildew. Avoid Prolonged Direct Contact with Newspaper Some experts used to recommend that you wrap your books with newspapers, or even place sheets of newspaper between the pages of your book. However, prolonged contact with newspapers can cause damage to your books because of acidity in the newspapers. If you do use a newspaper to get rid of the bad odor, be sure that the newspaper does not come into direct contact with your books. Avoid Bleach or Cleansers Bleach (or cleansers) can be destructive to the pages of your books. If the mildew and/or mold is such that you must remove it, use a dry, soft cloth to remove the worst of it. De-Stinkify Your Book In some cases, despite your best efforts, your book will still smell musty, mildewed or just old. Thankfully, theres an easy solution.  You will need two plastic containers--one that will fit inside the other one. Pour some kitty litter in the bottom of the larger container. Place your book into the smaller container (without the lid), then put the small plastic container into the larger container with the kitty litter. Place the lid on the larger plastic container. You can leave the book in this book de-stinkifier for a month, which will remove the odor (and any moisture) from the book.  You can also use baking soda or charcoal in your book de-stinkifier.