390th Birthday of John Locke - Part II

                  This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published at   https://afribary.com/works/the-notion-of-human-rights-in-the-philosophy-of-john-locke. The second was published at https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-rights/Natural-law-transformed-into-natural-rights. The third was published at https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.12987/9780300129182-009/pdf. The fourth was published at http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/6/john-locke-and-the-second-treatise-on-government

                 Going through the pages of history, one will note that the rights of man have been bastardized and their rights trample in the mud. Thus, denying human rights is in no little means denying man his humanity and dignity, and by so doing doubting his existence. Thus, the issue of human rights is one of the major problems bothering the human person in the 21st century. The continuous neglect of the rights of man by most often countries has dehumanized man's humanity from being a 'person' to an 'it'. The continuous infringement into one's right is in the increase in our world today thereby denying man his very essence and dignity. This is because the human person is being dehumanized, oppressed and bastardized against the fundamental values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. John Locke emerged with a political history that created space for what he called "a state of nature" where the respect for the individual's right is seen as a motivation for the common good and social progress. For Locke, the fundamental precepts of any system of human rights are life, health, liberty and prosperity. It is to secure this rights that governments are formed among men. Government always remains only an agent of society. It is not society itself. It is always an instrument of the people for the protection and promotion of their rights. Experience tell us that, in a society where injustice is not being upheld, where man's dignity is being dragged to the mud, where the liberty of man is not only comprehensively curtailed, but trampled upon; the idea of human rights becomes not only a mirage but also an illusion.                                                                                                                                                The intellectual and especially the scientific achievements of the 17th century (including the materialism of Hobbes, the rationalism of Descartes, the pantheism of Spinoza, and the empiricism of Bacon and Locke) encouraged a distinctly modern belief in natural law and universal order and, during the 18th century, the so-called Age of Enlightenment, inspired by growing confidence in human reason. Particularly important were the writings of Locke, arguably the most important theorist of modern times. Locke argued in detail, that certain rights self-evidently pertain to individuals as human beings, among them are the right to life, liberty (freedom from arbitrary rule) and property. This liberal intellectual ferment exerted a profound influence in the Western world of the 18th and early 19th centuries. In sum, the idea of natural rights, forebear to the contemporary notion of human rights, played a key role in late 18th and early 19th centuries struggles against political absolutism. Although the heyday of natural rights proved short, the idea of rights nonetheless endured. The abolition of slavery, the implementation of factory legislation, the rise of popular education and trade unionism, the universal suffrage movement, these and other examples of reformist impulses afford ample evidence that the idea was not to be extinguished. But it was not until the rise and fall of Nazi Germany that the idea of human rights truly came into its own. Many of the gruesome atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, convinced many that law and morality can't be grounded in any purely idealist or utilitarian doctrine. Certain actions, are absolutely wrong, no matter what the circumstances.                                                         Locke's democratic theory had dimensions ranging over accounts of the moral equality of persons, what we might today describe as a political rather than a metaphysical approach to moral and political disagreement, and a strong defense of majority rule as the wellspring of institutional legitimacy. Locke is typically portrayed as a theorist of individual rights rather than of democracy. In the debate over the ideological origins of the American Revolution, for instance, the Lockcan view is contrasted, as a rights-centric one, with a civic republican interpretation of the Founders' self-understanding.                                                                                                                                                                   In 1688, King James II was overthrown by a group of Parliamentarians. This was the result of what is known as the Glorious Revolution. Naturalist and political philosopher John Locke was present to witness these events and was so compelled by them, he wrote what is known as the Second Treatise on Government. In this, Locke would attempt to explain why King James II was justifiably overthrown, and why William III ascended him. He would define for us the "legitimate role of civil government". The best way to figure this out, was to imagine a state in which no government existed. Then by seeing that state, determine where necessary laws and governing bodies are needed. Locke described the role of civil government like this: "Political power, then being a right of making laws for the regulating and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community, in the execution of such laws, and in the defence of the common-wealth from foreign injury, and all this only for the public good." To Locke, a government existed, among other things, to promote public good, and to protect the life, liberty and property of its people. And the society must hold the power to instate a new government when necessary. 

390th Birthday of John Locke

                   Almost two months ago, precisely on 29th August, the British writer John Locke would complete 390 years old. So this post is a tribute to him. He was a pioneer in the defense of human rights, education and democracy.    This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke. The second was published at     https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.phid=36461&forceview=1#:~:text=Locke%20wrote%20that%20people%20form,that%20protects%20their%20human%20rights. The third was published at  https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/. The fourth was published at   https://ethics.org.au/big-thinker-john-locke/

                 John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of Liberalism". Considered one of the first British empiricists, Locke is equally important to social contract theory. His work greatly affected the development of political philosophy. His contributions to republicanism and liberal theory are reflected in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Internationally, Locke's political-legal principles continue to have a profound influence on the theory and practice of limited representative government and the protection of basic rights and freedoms under the rule of law. Locke's Theory of Mind is often cited as the origin of modern conceptions of identity and the self, figuring prominently in the work of later philosophers such as David Hume and Immanuel Kant. Locke was born near Bristol, both of his parents were Puritans. In 1647, Locke was sent to Westminster School in London under the sponsorship of Alexander Popham, a member of Parliament. After he was admitted to Oxford at the age of 20. He obtained a bachelor of medicine in 1675, having studied the subject extensively during his time at Oxford. Locke's medical knowledge was put to the test when Ashley Cooper undergo surgery to remove a cyst in the liver. Ashley survived and credited Locke with saving his life. Ashley, as a founder of the Whig movement, exerted great influence on Locke's political ideas. Locke became involved in politics when Ashley became Lord Chancellor in 1672. Although Locke was associated with the influential Whigs, his ideas about natural rights and government are today considered revolutionary for that period in English history . Locke went to Netherlands in 1683, during his 5 years in Holland, Locke chose his friends from among the same freethinking members of dissenting groups. Locke's strong empiricist tendencies would have disinclined him to read a grandly work such as Spinoza's Ethics, he was deeply receptive to Spinoza ideas, most particularly the argument for political and religious tolerance and the necessity of the separation of church and state. Unlike Thomas Hobbes, Locke believed that human nature is characterised by reason and tolerance. Like Hobbes, Locke assumed that the sole right to defend in the state of nature was not enough, so people established a civil society to resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government in a state of society. Locke was an assiduous book collector. By his death, locke had amassed a library of more than 3,000 books, a significant number in the 17th century.                                                                                                                                                                                 Traditionally, all groups of humans, from forest dwellers to urban, have had notions of justice, fairness, dignity, and respect. However, the notion that all human beings, simply because they are humans, have certain inalienable rights they may use to protect themselves against society and its rulers was a minority view in the era before the 1500s. Many pre-modern societies believed that rulers had an obligation to govern wisely and for everyone's benefit. However, this obligation was believed to come from divine commandment or from tradition. It did not rest on a concept of personal human rights that ordinary people could call on to defend themselves against unjust rulers. The first person credited with developing a comprehensive theory of human rights was the British philosopher John Locke. Locke wrote that people from societies, and societies establish governments, in order to assure the enjoyment of "natural" rights. Locke defined government as a "social contract" between rulers and ruled. Citizens, he believed, are obliged to give allegiance only to a government that protects their human rights. Many of the great political struggles of the past two centuries have revolved around expanding the range of protected rights. Across the globe, regimes that denied basic human rights to their citizens have lacked long-term stability. The lesson of the recent past is that, wherever people are given the chance to choose, they choose internationally recognized human rights. And despite shortcomings, we live in a world in which fewer governments dare to deny their people that free choice.                                                                                                                                                                         Locke's epistemological positions in the Essay Concerning Human Understanding lead him to take education to be extremely important. His attack on innate ideas increases the importance of giving children the right sort of education to help them get the right sort of ideas. Locke's main educational writing is Some Thoughts Concerning Education. The book was extremely popular and went through numerous editions after its publication. Locke hopes for children who have internalized strong powers of self-denial and a work ethic that will make them compliant in an emerging modern economy. Locke's education is designed to give children the ability, when they are older, to evaluate critically, and possibly reject, prevailing norms. Locke also assumes that the isolation of early childhood will end and that adolescent will normally think differently from their parents.                                                                                                                                                     He was known for his liberal, anti-authoritarian Theory of the State, his empirical theory of knowledge and his advocacy of religious toleration. Much of Locke's work is characterised by an opposition to authoritarianism, both at the level of the individual and within institutions such as government and church. Locke's argument also places limits on the proper use of power by authorities. Due to his emphasis on liberty, Locke defended a distinction between a public and a private realm. The public realm is that of politics and the individual's role in the community as a part of the state. The private realm is that of domesticity where power is parental. For Locke, government should not interfere in the private realm. Locke asked us to use reason in order to seek the truth, rather than simply accept the opinion of those in positions of power or be swayed by superstition. We see Locke's legacy in the 1776 U.S. Declaration of Independence, which was founded on his natural rights and theory of government. Following on from his theory of human rights, we also see Locke's legacy in the U.D.H.R., which was adopted by the U.N.in 1948. Locke's lasting legacy is the argument that society ought to be ruled democratically in such a way as to protected the liberty and rights of its citizens. And the government should never over-step its boundaries.

50 Actions to Becoming a More Extraordinary Leader

                    This post is a summary of the article with the title above published at   https://jimshaffergroup.com/resources/50-ways-to-becoming-an-extraordinary-leader/

                  1) Every time a leader speaks or acts, his/her words and actions should communicate the story.    2) Although large meetings can be used to communicate the story, leaders can also take advantage of daily mini meetings in various parts to connect people and their jobs to strategy and goals.   3) Avoid mixed messages from different people trying to communicate the key messages.   4) Praise the person you see or learn about who is doing work that is consistent. Then tell the other people around them.   5) Inform the person who is not acting in a way that is consistent. Encourage him/her. Track the person's progress.   6) Reward people who uncover and report on problems.   8) Publicize and celebrate great responses.   7) Make simple forms of recognition, like a smile, hand shake or a high five, contagious. This is how recognition cultures are built.   8) Ask yourself every day what you have done to serve your team better. How have I helped my team grow?   9) Hold the managers accountable for using soft skills to generate results that are consistent.   10) Distribute articles describing what other companies are doing to improve. Discuss the ideas in your meetings.   11) Actively participate in orientation, training and development programs.  12) Be reliable. If your behavior is confusing, indecisive or inconsistent, others can't depend on you act in similar ways in similar conditions.    13) Always tell the truth. Honesty does not mean full disclosure.   14) When you make a mistake, apologize.    15) Use question to communicate that you want your team and its members to pursue excellence.    16) Keep your goals in perspective. Know and keep in front of you the imporatnt areas of your life such as family, etc.   17) Set aside a specific time each week for personal reflection. Ask questions, and caoture your reflections. What do I still need to focus on for next week? Have I made progress towards my long term goals? What new ideas do I have?    18) Identify the frustrating processes or systems that prevent people from achieving. Create a specific plan to make those issues go away permanently. Tell everyone what you did and why.    19) Scrutinize your working environment. Describe it as if you were visiting for it the first time. Does it bring people together or keep people apart?    20) Recognize someone in another discipline, department or area who helped your team succeed.    21) Invite hourly people to your team meetings. Ask them what the team does right and what the team does wrong. What can you do to help them get the job done right?     22) Use 25% of meetings to discuss the past; 75% to discuss the future plan and how you can improve on it.    23) Create continuous improvement teams to focus on future. Ask: What should we anticipate? Tell why it is important and what it takes.    24) Congratulate someone publicly for thinking ahead.     25) Stop rewarding or recognizing the fire fighters and start rewarding and recognizing the fire preventers.