Understanding ‘Government by Consent’ in Democracy

The question asks which prominent philosopher is associated with the concept of democracy as a system of ‘Government by Consent’. This idea is fundamental to modern liberal democratic theory and outlines that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when consented to by the people over whom that political power is exercised.

Examining the Philosophers and ‘Government by Consent’

Let's look at the options provided and their major contributions to political philosophy:

• John Locke: John Locke, in his Two Treatises of Government, heavily emphasized the concept of the social contract. He argued that individuals leave the state of nature by consenting to form a society and a government to protect their natural rights, particularly life, liberty, and property. He explicitly stated that legitimate government derives its power from the consent of the governed. Resistance is justified if the government acts against the trust placed in it by the people's consent.
• J. S. Mill: John Stuart Mill was a major figure in utilitarianism and liberalism. His work like On Liberty focuses on individual freedom, the harm principle, and representative government. While his ideas are crucial for understanding liberal democracy, the phrase and core concept of "government by consent" are more directly and fundamentally linked to Locke's foundational ideas on political legitimacy.
• Jeremy Bentham: Jeremy Bentham is considered the founder of modern utilitarianism. His political philosophy centered on achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number. While he discussed political and legal reform, his primary focus was on utility and its application to law and governance, rather than consent as the basis of legitimacy in the Lockean sense.
• J.J. Rousseau: Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of the social contract, outlined in The Social Contract, introduced the idea of the "general will". He argued that legitimate political authority comes from the collective will of the people. While related to the idea of popular sovereignty, Rousseau's emphasis is on the active and continuous participation in expressing the general will, which is slightly distinct from Locke's idea of initial and ongoing consent to a limited government protecting rights.

Connecting the Philosopher to the Concept

Comparing the contributions, John Locke's philosophy is most directly and famously associated with the principle that legitimate government is founded upon and sustained by the consent of the governed. His ideas provided a strong theoretical justification for limited government and the rights of the people to resist tyranny, shaping the development of constitutional democracies.

Therefore, the philosopher who said that Democracy means a system of ‘Government by Consent’ is John Locke.

Revision Table: Key Concepts in Political Philosophy

Additional Information: The Impact of ‘Government by Consent’

The principle of ‘Government by Consent’, as articulated by John Locke, had a profound impact on political thought and revolutions, including the American Revolution. It underpins the idea that rulers are not inherently entitled to power but hold it only with the permission of the people they govern. This concept is central to constitutions and declarations of rights that establish governments accountable to their citizens.

Consent can be expressed in various ways, such as through elections (explicit consent) or by simply living within a territory and benefiting from its laws and services (tacit consent). However, Locke's theory emphasizes the importance of active consent for establishing the initial government and the right to withdraw consent if the government violates its fundamental obligations.