CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

“Politics involves the production, allocation, and utilization of decision making

powers among large pluralities of individuals. In stable and strong states, political

activities usually refer to the powers of the state to govern its people.” 1 Politics is a very

complicated job. It consists of decision-making, managing its constituents, managing

money, and giving directives to government agencies.

Focusing on the Political Philosophy, one of the famous philosophers in the said

field is John Locke. He presents an “intriguing figure in the history of political

philosophy whose brilliance of exposition and breadth of academic activity remains

profoundly influential.”2 Locke’s political philosophy is characterized by an influential

and insightful theories of government, power, property, trust, and rights. Found in his

Two Treaties of Government. Locke’s political philosophy is guided by his deeply

religious commitments. He accepted that the existence of a creating God and the notion

that all humans are God’s servants in virtue and relationship. God created humans for a

certain purpose, namely to live a life according to his laws and thus to inherit the eternal

salvation. God gave humans just those intellectual and other liabilities necessary to

achieve in the end.3 Hence, the political philosophy of John Locke is a mixture of civil

and natural rights. It focuses on the natural laws, government power, freedom, and the

1
Ateneo de Manila University, “Philippine Political Culture: A Conceptual Framework.”
Retrieved January 19, 2022 from https://pssc.org.ph/wp-content/pssc-archives/Philippine%20Journal
%20of%20Psychology/2000/Num%202/08_Philippine%20Political%20Culture_%20A%20Conceptual
%20Framework.pdf.
2
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy , “John Locke: Political Philosophy.” Retrieved February
8, 2022 from https://iep.utm.edu/locke-po/.
3
Britannica, “Two Treaties of Government.” Retrieved February 8, 2022 from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Two-Treatises-of-Government.

1
religion as well. Thus, Locke believes that God created man to live a better life and has

an important purpose in the society.

The Filipino political culture “is a systematically related set of mental and

concrete constructions. It includes but is not limited to beliefs, feelings, group-accepted

practices, language, and paraphernalia shared by large group of Filipinos as they produce,

allocate and use of political powers within, outside, and in interaction with that state.” 4

Nowadays, the political culture in the Philippines is the most influential and controversial

due to government power. One of the example of Filipino political culture is the Political

dynasty. It becomes a culture to possess government power in one’s locality. Hence, the

Philippines has a very hot issue to both local and foreign media outlets especially during

the election period. The media itself knows what are the political culture or practices

occur during the election (e.g. election frauds and vote buying).

John Locke’s Two Treaties of Government aims to answer the question on who

should rule the country and on what legitimate bases. It stresses the individual consent as

the mechanism by which political societies are created and individuals join the societies.

The relevance of John Locke’s Political philosophy in today’s Philippine Political

Culture is to oversee and to base the political practices in the Philippines in accordance to

Locke’s political philosophy.

The researcher is driven to study a topic that has a relevance in the contemporary

issues of today’s society the Philippine Political Culture. However, the basis of this study

is the Political Philosophy of John Locke.

4
Office of the Ombudsman, “Philippine Political Culture and Governance” Retrieved
February 8, 2022 from
https://www.ombudsman.gov.ph/UNDP4/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Philippine-Political-Culture-
and-Governance.pdf.

2
E. Scope and Limitation of the Study

The researcher seeks to discuss and to understand the Political Philosophy of John

Locke in his Two Treatises of Government. The study shows how his Political Philosophy

found in his Two Treatises of Government is relevant in today’s Philippine Political

Culture.

The researcher finds out that studying the Political Philosophy of John Locke

entails an in-depth analysis of its principles and aspects. In the case of the present

Philippine Political culture, it is crucial to know what characterizes it.

Therefore, studying the Political Philosophy of John Locke in the sight of his Two

Treatises of Government can be beneficial in trying to know and understand today’s

Philippine Political Culture.

To realize this aspiration of the researcher, he will proceed to searching online

sources and articles related to the study. He will also try to find books found in their

school library in order to have many references to tackle about his study.