Just posted at the repairmanjack forum... What do you think?

Loved both eps. Have loved the series since the start, especially when they mentioned Locke's name and then presented Rousseau as an antagonist. I suspected the writers/producers might be pretty up on their political philosophy, and THEN they brought in Desmond DAVID HUME, and the codename they gave to Locke back on the mainland, Jeremy Bentham! Sooo good. As a libertarian, seeing either Lockean libertarianism or utiltarianism even implied is like lightning.

Of course, for a while there I was getting frustrated, because it seemed that in order to facilitate character conflict, they were making some of the characters do things that were uncharacteristic. Examples of this occurred often with Locke. They needed to have him explain why he blew up the sub, because otherwise it didn't jibe with his helpful and kind character (even though he, personally wanted to stay on the island, one could not imagine why he would prevent the others from leaving) that needed about one line of dialogue to give us a better understanding of why he was so rash. He also treated Hurley in an un-Locke way when the groups split towards the end of last season. He was usually very kind and instructive towards Hurley, and would not have really coerced him like that, or at least he would have stated at the outset why he needed Hurley to lead them to Jacob's cabin.

But that said, I wonder if the writers/producers are sending the viewer a philosophical message:

John Locke (the real philosopher) is dead (as are his noble ideas). We must revive him if we are to survive.

IE, the US must return to a proper understanding of natural rights and locke's philosophy. Could be a biiiiiiiiig stretch, but it was fun considering the possibility of such a message coming from the show.*

Neat program! My favorite next to "The Prisoner", most of "Dr. Who" through to Tom Baker's run, and "Heroes, Season 1".

Be Seeing You!

* Disclaimer! Locke's Second Treatise contained in it a tautology, wherein he states that man has natural rights to his life, liberty and property, no man should be deprived or a portion of the fruits of his labor without his consent, and that the only legitimate government creation is that which protects his life, liberty and property. Trouble is that in order to create the government police force which will "protect" his property, the "majority" will take a portion of his property (the fruits of his labor), whether he likes it or not... Which runs counter to the stated purpose of why government is created! I used to love Locke, and was a small gubment guy, but now I realize that the complete absence of government is the only consistent political philosophy that is also moral at its core. I hope they name a character after Lysander Spooner on the show!