Plato, Locke, Hegel and Marx have different views on the proper role and place r
ID: 1213815 • Letter: P
Question
Plato, Locke, Hegel and Marx have different views on the proper role and place regarding property. Plato opposes property ownership by the guardians, and Marx opposes private property. Locke sees the protection of property as one of the main goals of government, while economic activity and property are essential elements of ethical life for Hegel. Construct an argument about which philosopher has the most convincing theories of property by comparing and contrasting Plato, Locke, Hegel and Marx. Please leave out opinion-marking terms like, "I think" or "In my opinion." Make a clear statement about which man was most convincing, and then convince me with facts and evidence why this is true. For example, "Plato has the strongest argument because . . . " This can include real world results from their ideas, strength and consistency of their arguments, or process of elimination by poking holes in the arguments of the other men leaving your choice as the last man standing. Remember, to state a clear thesis at the very beginning of which man was the most convincing, and then use your compare and contrast to show why. I'm looking for grad level analysis and assessment of their ideas, not just description. This paper should be between 12-14 pages (3000-3500 words), double-spaced, and with references to the readings to support your positions.
Explanation / Answer
Dear sir / madam,
All the four economists are right according to the traditions of the society in which they wrote their theories. Plato wrote this according to the guidelines of the ideal society he had propounded. Marx gave his statement in terms with Marxism as during his time, holding private property was the exploitation of masses and he had dreamed of a collective society in which poor had to be in equal terms with rich. Locke put forward his theory that if the sole responsibility of protection was on the government, then the government was the sole owner of the property with no partiality for anyone.
But Hegel has the most convincing statement as he has taken the concept of economic activity. There is the problem of 1. What to produce 2. How to produce 3. For whom to produce in every society. The first central problem of economy is which goods and services should be produced to satisfy the human wants of the people. It is because the means are scarce in relation to the wants. We have to decide whether consumer goods are to be produced or capital goods. Then the quantity of each goods has to be calculated. Then there is the problem of -how to produce. i.e. It is a problem of choice of technique. There are two types of techniques-a. Labour intensive (using more of labor in relation to capital ) and b. Capital intensive( using more capital and less labor) The third problem is - For whom to produce i.e. this is the problem of distribution of income between a. different groups of the society, and b. The present and the future. Economy has to make good economic welfare and choose suitable policites to curb the concentration of economic power and to help expand the real income of low income section of society. There is the problem of choice between present and future. If the economy has decided to produce capital goods with the help of capital intensive techniques , it implies that society has chosen to produce for the future generation, because building up of the capital stock of the economy implies more production in future than in present.
The three economic activities are 1. Production 2. Consumption 3. Capital formation ( investment)
1. Production - It is an activity which creates or adds utility to goods and services. Utility of goods can be created or added by changing the shape, place etc.
2. Consumption- Using up of goods and services for satisfying human needs, with the cosumption the utility of goods and services decreases or destroys
3 Capital formation- It is the net addition to the capital stock of the economy in a given period. The surplus of production over consumption in an accounting year is also defined as capital formation.
Every person has a duty for the his family, his country and for the mankind and also towards the world and hence economic activity should not be ignored while his private property is assessed.