Individual Rights vs. National Security

Introduction

When you hear talk of Individual rights vs. state rights you hear talk of John Locke, Rousseau, The U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of rights of man and citizen. Individual rights refer to how much power the individual can have and the rights granted to him. Individual rights are usually associated with liberalism. In the United States the Bill of Rights outlines individuals' rights within society. Many events throughout history altered states rights and individual rights.

Discussion

Locke created a model for society that helps define individualism. He brought up the laws of nature and reason, which entitles everyone to life, liberty and property. In Locke's model, power to rule is given to the people, who entrust a specified group of officials to settle all disputes only under the law of nature. The government is merely members of its own society; all powers not given to the government are reserved to the people themselves. The government's authority is contractual and restricted. Meaning that if the government abuse's its power, and then the people would have the right to revolt, and run out the government to make way for a new authority. Locke believed that the main reason why men enter society is for the preservation of their property. In his essay The Second treatise of Government Locke says "If man in the state of nature be so free...if he is absolute lord of his own person and possessions...and subject to nobody, why will he part with his freedom, why will he give up his empire and subject himself to the dominion and control of any other power?...in the state of nature he has such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain and constantly exposed to the invasion of others". (pg. 32) Rousseau believes that humans are corrupted by modern day society. Rousseau says that the state is unjust and corrupt and is dominated by the rich and the powerful. While the poor only know oppression and unhappiness, the aristocrats use it selfishly to further their own interests. The modern state deprives human beings of their natural freedom and promotes self-centered individualism that undermines equality and concern for the common good. Rousseau believes that a human being must give up some of his natural rights in order to join a society. " Man loses by the social contract his natural liberty, and an unlimited ...