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Political Philosophy Term Paper

¶ … evolution of individual rights with various theories, using one source.

Why this concept wasn't there in ancient Greece:

The central concept behind Greek civilization was to have a political center that does not interfere with the individual rights. The notion of individual rights was not apparent in Ancient Greek was because there was no absolute dominant power, who would rule over the populace. Everyone was free and everyone had freedom to practice what they believed. People shared common heritage based on membership status in society but the customs remained within the realms of the individual through polis. There was no hierarchical depotism where the people have to serve to their superiors. Freedom hence, meant that the Greek citizens enjoyed self-governance.

why Machiavelli constitutes a turning point:

Machiavelli, with production of his book The Prince, made a turning point in the history of individual rights. He negates the supreme power of the medieval secular group, instead propose to install a supreme power - the Prince, who should have the absolute authority to designate tasks, the rights and the law according to the needs of the people. According to Machiavelli, individuals should be given rights but these should not interfere with other's rights. To achieve this status, Machiavelli believes a ruler could control, the quality of political power, spread the divisions for social liberty. He provides for the individual rights but he also argues for the preservation of the state or ruler as the ultimate controlling power.

3) How and when it reaches its 'final' form as we consider it today:

Taking Machiavelli's conceptual framework, John Locke and Adam Smith, present the argument that, a successful society can exist, giving individual their rights, if there is certain laws that govern the limits of the individual rights. Locke's limited role of government distinguishes the powers, the relationship of the individual and the rights of the community to individual lives. In separating, them, Locke present a community where civil liberties are given but with certain degree of limitation.

Cohen, Mitchell and Nicole Fermon, eds. Princeton Readings in Political Thought-Essential Texts since Plato, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996.

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