Ok so this was originally an essay for a university project, but I found some real good parallels between John Locke the “Lostie” and John Locke the philosopher. So I kind of combined the two, then I came across some Jeremy Bentham Quotes and found also that these quotes seem to support what would happen if Locke was to be put into a leadership position. As Admiral MacCutcheon quoted in his theory “names aren’t assigned without a reason” so I’m using the two different philosophical ideals and tying them to the Lostie John Locke and what his alias Jeremy Bentham could symbolize.
JOHN LOCKE
“As people are walking all the time, in the same spot, a path appears.”
Locke has never had an easy life, adopted at birth and being brought up in foster care and then being crippled by his father who stole his kidney and destroyed his life completely. Despite this Locke never gave up he carried on working although wheel chair bound and set out for what he believed was his destiny, as by almost a test of fate his path was mapped out, when it seemed he was walking on the spot always trying but never really doing anything. But as he was trying he was mapping out his path to the island, as if almost a test of faith.
“What worries you, masters you.”
In order for Locke to leave his old self behind he had to kill the ghosts from his past that haunted him. This was Anthony Cooper, Locke’s appalling father. Locke had to kill his dad so he could become free. I believe this to be the major part of Locke’s transition to Jeremy Bentham.
“I have spent more than half a lifetime trying to express the tragic moment”
Locke has never really had any sympathy for what his dad did to him, he always seems to have compassion with quotes like “I’m sorry for what happened to you parents James, that must have been hard for you” (The Brig) and “I’m sorry for what happened to your daughter Ben” ( Shape of Things to Come). Yet you never really see anyone have compassion for Locke, Ben however did pretend to have compassion for Locke but only to get Locke to kill his father, although I believed this made Locke feel welcomed with open arms.
“It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.”
Locke a “man of faith” has much pride and frustration over Jack a “man of science”. Locke can’t believe how blind Jack is to the truth, and Jack is in disbelief that someone could be so confident of the truth. Locke takes much pride in being right and the island being moved proved Jack wrong.
“It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean”
Locke knows that the island is special but does not yet know how special it actually is, he has more or less become the leader of an island he knows near enough nothing about. Lock appears to be taking becoming the leader of the others very blindly, he is leading a sect that have to teach him what he is leading. We know Locke doesn’t always necessarily think realistically and can sometimes rush into things without thinking about consequences.
“Reverie is when ideas float in our mind without reflection or regard of the understanding.”
Locke seems to act by his visions and instincts as opposed to thinking things through. He can be a bit erratic, by blowing up Mikhail’s station and the submarine he always trusts that something will save him and he never backs down even when being held at gun point. Locke believes he will be saved be something he doesn’t understand.
JEREMY BENTHAM
“It is vain to talk of the interest of the community, without understanding what is the interest of the individual.”
Could this mean Locke fails as a new leader of the others, he has indeed always claimed to have put the island first instead of putting his people first and listening to them. Although normally right, Locke’s action always seem to lead to death e.g. Boone being killed and going to the Barracks. I think most of Locke’s problems are he jumps in to situations blindly, he has to much faith in what he doesn’t understand
“Secrecy, being an instrument of conspiracy, ought never to be the system of a regular Government.”
Could this mean Locke finds out some secrets of the island and exposes them to people outside the others, this could this lead to conflict with the hostiles? Or does this mean his secrecy angers people we know when he was very secretive when he formed his sect after there was a disagreement of the rescuers intentions. He kept what he was doing from his followers and they threatened to leave.
“The principle of asceticism never was, nor ever can be, consistently pursued by any living creature. Let but one tenth part of the inhabitants of the earth pursue it consistently, and in a day's time they will have turned it into a Hell.”
We know that Locke disagreed with the way Ben used technology and didn't like the fact that the others lived in houses, could the new Locke have made the others a more outdoor and spiritual sect? could he have abandoned the barracks and set on a more simplistic style of living? If so I believe this will be Locke’s downfall.
“Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.”
Could it be that Locke uses his authority for the gain of the Island without taking any other inhabitants into consideration, could this anger the monster or even his own people?
“No power of government ought to be employed in the endeavour to establish any system or article of belief on the subject of religion.”
Could it be Locke's faith becomes an issue to himself and his followers, we know although Locke’s faith is his strongest characteristic it is also his worst quality at times his faith prevents him from being realistic.
“Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet.”
Could Locke get so carried away with his faith and leadership he makes the wrong decisions for the island. Too often he seems to think with his imagination and hope that he makes himself look a little crazy. I think Locke will try too hard to find answers and lose awareness of his internal affairs, and his actions will angers the other island sects.
All in all, I believe Locke fulfilling his destiny as leader of the others will create a change of character, we know Locke is on to bad things, and that he ends up dead. So we assume that problems on the island are so bad that he had to leave it. I believe Locke will fail as leader I believe this by the difference of characteristics and opinion and the also the similarities of the philosophers. Locke believed in a more spiritual way of life where change was from within one’s consciousness and self. Where as Bentham was more of a believer in the environment that surrounds you changes you. I think Locke will have a it of a power issue, bearing in my mind he has never really had any real responsibility in his life. I think this will be his downfall he will rely too much on his faith. Ben was always a trickster and was clever and cunning, he always had a plan and was very realistic. Locke is not as capable as Ben in terms of genius, but has a lot stronger beliefs and practica! l skills. But I think Locke will become ruthless, he kills for the island and I believe if he has any incline that the island needs something we will get it no questions asked and without hesitation.
Anyways thanks alot for your time and feel free to rate and comment.
Theory by 2342
JOHN LOCKE
“As people are walking all the time, in the same spot, a path appears.”
Locke has never had an easy life, adopted at birth and being brought up in foster care and then being crippled by his father who stole his kidney and destroyed his life completely. Despite this Locke never gave up he carried on working although wheel chair bound and set out for what he believed was his destiny, as by almost a test of fate his path was mapped out, when it seemed he was walking on the spot always trying but never really doing anything. But as he was trying he was mapping out his path to the island, as if almost a test of faith.
“What worries you, masters you.”
In order for Locke to leave his old self behind he had to kill the ghosts from his past that haunted him. This was Anthony Cooper, Locke’s appalling father. Locke had to kill his dad so he could become free. I believe this to be the major part of Locke’s transition to Jeremy Bentham.
“I have spent more than half a lifetime trying to express the tragic moment”
Locke has never really had any sympathy for what his dad did to him, he always seems to have compassion with quotes like “I’m sorry for what happened to you parents James, that must have been hard for you” (The Brig) and “I’m sorry for what happened to your daughter Ben” ( Shape of Things to Come). Yet you never really see anyone have compassion for Locke, Ben however did pretend to have compassion for Locke but only to get Locke to kill his father, although I believed this made Locke feel welcomed with open arms.
“It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.”
Locke a “man of faith” has much pride and frustration over Jack a “man of science”. Locke can’t believe how blind Jack is to the truth, and Jack is in disbelief that someone could be so confident of the truth. Locke takes much pride in being right and the island being moved proved Jack wrong.
“It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean”
Locke knows that the island is special but does not yet know how special it actually is, he has more or less become the leader of an island he knows near enough nothing about. Lock appears to be taking becoming the leader of the others very blindly, he is leading a sect that have to teach him what he is leading. We know Locke doesn’t always necessarily think realistically and can sometimes rush into things without thinking about consequences.
“Reverie is when ideas float in our mind without reflection or regard of the understanding.”
Locke seems to act by his visions and instincts as opposed to thinking things through. He can be a bit erratic, by blowing up Mikhail’s station and the submarine he always trusts that something will save him and he never backs down even when being held at gun point. Locke believes he will be saved be something he doesn’t understand.
JEREMY BENTHAM
“It is vain to talk of the interest of the community, without understanding what is the interest of the individual.”
Could this mean Locke fails as a new leader of the others, he has indeed always claimed to have put the island first instead of putting his people first and listening to them. Although normally right, Locke’s action always seem to lead to death e.g. Boone being killed and going to the Barracks. I think most of Locke’s problems are he jumps in to situations blindly, he has to much faith in what he doesn’t understand
“Secrecy, being an instrument of conspiracy, ought never to be the system of a regular Government.”
Could this mean Locke finds out some secrets of the island and exposes them to people outside the others, this could this lead to conflict with the hostiles? Or does this mean his secrecy angers people we know when he was very secretive when he formed his sect after there was a disagreement of the rescuers intentions. He kept what he was doing from his followers and they threatened to leave.
“The principle of asceticism never was, nor ever can be, consistently pursued by any living creature. Let but one tenth part of the inhabitants of the earth pursue it consistently, and in a day's time they will have turned it into a Hell.”
We know that Locke disagreed with the way Ben used technology and didn't like the fact that the others lived in houses, could the new Locke have made the others a more outdoor and spiritual sect? could he have abandoned the barracks and set on a more simplistic style of living? If so I believe this will be Locke’s downfall.
“Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.”
Could it be that Locke uses his authority for the gain of the Island without taking any other inhabitants into consideration, could this anger the monster or even his own people?
“No power of government ought to be employed in the endeavour to establish any system or article of belief on the subject of religion.”
Could it be Locke's faith becomes an issue to himself and his followers, we know although Locke’s faith is his strongest characteristic it is also his worst quality at times his faith prevents him from being realistic.
“Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet.”
Could Locke get so carried away with his faith and leadership he makes the wrong decisions for the island. Too often he seems to think with his imagination and hope that he makes himself look a little crazy. I think Locke will try too hard to find answers and lose awareness of his internal affairs, and his actions will angers the other island sects.
All in all, I believe Locke fulfilling his destiny as leader of the others will create a change of character, we know Locke is on to bad things, and that he ends up dead. So we assume that problems on the island are so bad that he had to leave it. I believe Locke will fail as leader I believe this by the difference of characteristics and opinion and the also the similarities of the philosophers. Locke believed in a more spiritual way of life where change was from within one’s consciousness and self. Where as Bentham was more of a believer in the environment that surrounds you changes you. I think Locke will have a it of a power issue, bearing in my mind he has never really had any real responsibility in his life. I think this will be his downfall he will rely too much on his faith. Ben was always a trickster and was clever and cunning, he always had a plan and was very realistic. Locke is not as capable as Ben in terms of genius, but has a lot stronger beliefs and practica! l skills. But I think Locke will become ruthless, he kills for the island and I believe if he has any incline that the island needs something we will get it no questions asked and without hesitation.
Anyways thanks alot for your time and feel free to rate and comment.
Theory by 2342