Topic > John Locke and Karl Marx on Social Justice - 803

Social justice is the way in which justice is served in a society as a whole or to its classes. Throughout history, various unique ideas about creating a just society have been established. Two of the best-known concepts are those of Locke and Marx. Although they both have their own ideas for a "just state", they are both very different in their aspects. John Locke's views on social justice and a just state begin with his belief that all human beings are governed by what he calls "natural laws" and are protected by their "unalienable personal rights." Our unalienable rights are life, liberty, health and property. They are considered inalienable rights because they are given by God and, ideally, no other human being could ever have the right to remove them or threaten their existence. One of Locke's most important concepts is that of the "right of property". He elaborated much further than the idea of ​​possessing material objects. His idea of ​​property rights centers on our right to our own bodies. This includes the very important idea that we can all live our lives freely with the right to pursue happiness. Locke describes the state of nature as one in which all men are free to perform their own actions and all are equal. No person has more power or jurisdiction than another, and it is reciprocated. This means that if one person has the power to do something or make a legal decision over a second person, that person has the same power over the first person. In this state of nature described by Locke, people are governed by what he calls natural laws. As Locke states in the Second Treatise on Civil Government, “…and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that they being all equal and independent… middle of the paper…. ..children due to poverty and disease, was a factor that fueled his drive towards creating a just society. Marx argued that the class system created a feudal society. "The bourgeoisie cannot exist without constantly revolutionizing the instruments of production, and therefore the relations of production, and with them all the relations of society." The proletariat made up a larger percentage of the population and, according to Marx, made it stronger. This, combined with the threat to their economic stability, gives them an advantage in forming a revolt against the bourgeoisie. As Marx saw it, completely eliminating the class system over time would be the key point in creating a just society. In his ideal society there would be economic equality and no class divisions. People could do whatever they wanted, so there would be no desire for exploitation.