Can One Person Change the World?

Throughout history, numerous attempts have been made by rulers, scientists, mathematicians, and inventors to change their world, and make a lasting mark in history. Unfortunately, not every one succeeds in changing the world, even with their greatest efforts. Galileo, for example, worked for years to prove that the Copernican theory was correct, but he was stopped by the church. On the other hand, some people can change the world, such as John Locke. His thoughts and ideas of government have been used throughout history, and still are today. Hitler, also changed his world during his time, but his influence has faded over time. He was able to bring down the population of Jews, Slavs, and Gypsies, and today there is still some racism against these ethnic groups, just not as severe.

As an English philosopher, John Locke was one who based his theories on natural law, a universal moral law that could be understood with reason. Locke agreed with Thomas Hobbes, another English philosopher, that the government was based on a social contract, and that order needed to be established. However, unlike Hobbes, John Locke believed that people, in their nature, are reasonable and moral, and have natural rights. In his writing, Two Treatises of Government, Locke declared that the purpose of government was to protect people’s natural rights, the rights to life, liberty, and property, and that governments functioned best with limited powers, with the ability to overthrow it in the hands of the citizens if it did not protect their natural rights. Throughout Europe and across the globe, his writings were read, and early American colonists used many of his ideas. In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson included many of Locke’s ideas and beliefs about government. Having such a lasting impact, this proves how someone can change the world.

Sometimes a person may have everything that is needed to change the world, but the people around them stop them dead in their tracks. In 1609, Galileo Galilei built his own telescope, and discovered moons circling around the planet Jupiter. Figuring that not everything revolves around the Earth, he viewed it possible that some planets revolved around the sun, proving that the Copernican Theory was correct. In 1632, Galileo published his ideas, which were shortly followed by severe opposition by the church. Believing that it contradicted the church, Pope Urban VIII demanded Galileo to go to Rome for a trial. Using death and torture threats against Galileo, the Pope soon forced him to abandon his statements, by publicly stating that he “went too far” in some of his writings. Today, Galileo’s discoveries are known, but he was unable to change the world during his time.