Government’s end is human good, not rulers’ will

Evidence

The end of government is the good of mankind; and which is best for mankind, that the people should be always exposed to the boundless will of tyranny, or that the rulers should be sometimes liable to be opposed, when they grow exorbitant in the use of their power, and employ it for the destruction, and not the preservation of the properties of their people? — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 286

Categorization

• DEFINE: States the teleological definition of government that underwrites every dissolution-of-government claim.
• recurring: this claim recurs 3 times within its source
• XREF: connects to: The people who depute power are the proper judge of its abuse — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 303; Peace purchased by submission to force is worthless — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 285; Aristotle defines good and bad governments by ethical intent rather than constitution — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 812

Related

• Aristotle defines good and bad governments by ethical intent rather than constitution (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• Aristotle defines good and bad governments by ethical intent rather than constitution #expands (0.95) — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 812