Posted on 10/25/2015 11:00:06 AM PDT by Politicalkiddo
So I am writing a paper for my PoliSci class on the "right of revolution" and I plan to use John Locke's writings as my main supporting evidence. My professor, however, wants me to find a specific someone who was/is against the idea of people having the right to revolution, and I cannot find anyone specific. I keep finding vague answers about monarchs, but no one who has actually spoken/written out against the idea. Any suggestions? :) Thank you!
Every democrat, ever?
I’m pretty sure that King George didn’t believe we had that right. And no standing government believes in the right to revolt. Even here in the U.S. there are laws against plotting the overthrow of the government.
Sam Adams?
Do your own work. Tom Sawyer and the fence comes to mind
Romans 13
Hitler, Stalin Mao, Castro. They disarmed their populations and then the genocides began.
What the heck? I’m not asking anyone to write my essay. I just wanted a name or an essay. I’ve searched Google numerous times, but I guess I’m not asking it correctly.
Haha, yeah. Can’t exactly use all of those idiots, though. ;)
Don’t know of a specific individual, but to give you a point in the right direction you have to consider what is the basis for Locke’s assertion to a right of rebellion. i.e., natural law. So you have to find someone who rejects natural law. Perhaps someone who views the right of rebellion merely as an aspect of social contract. You might try Hobbes.
Do a Google search on “arguments against the revolutionary war”.
Why not find and thread through the arguments of the Continental Congresses, as well as the individual letters between various members, to find where they really stood, since some of them were not, at the start, in favor of rebellion, themselves.
King James I of England and the supporters of the Restoration of the Monarch after Charles I was beheaded would provide some information on those opposed to uprisings against the king. James said he would harry the Puritans out of the land, but a few decades later, the English supporters of Cromwell had gained the upper hand, and Great Britain almost had a constitution.
James I created a new Bible, because he didn’t like the notes about the king in the Geneva Bible that was used by the Puritans. The Pilgrims who came here in 1620 carried the Geneva Bible.
The Puritans believed in good government and the ability to ‘revolt.’ You might need to clarify the difference between a true ‘Revolution’ and a ‘Reaction.’ Some people think the American Revolution was more of the latter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lex,_Rex
Lex Rex would have been well known among the Puritans. This paved the way for John Locke.
All revolution is anti-government. Those who oppose revolution are those who support the perpetual expansion of government.
You might consider using Aristotle as a pro government, anti revolution advocate. He believed that government must be stabilized according to certain principles as a response to revolutionary sentiment. This will ground your paper in classical thought. Move from there to Hobbes and Nietzsche.
Good luck.
“I’m pretty sure that King George didn’t believe we had that right.”
Of course, but I’m looking for someone who has actively spoken out against the idea. I can find several instances of people being for the right, but I can’t find specific writings by detractors.
Robin Hood
“You might consider using Aristotle as a pro government, anti revolution advocate. He believed that government must be stabilized according to certain principles as a response to revolutionary sentiment. This will ground your paper in classical thought. Move from there to Hobbes and Nietzsche.”
Thanks!
Edmund Burke
Do your own work
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