Malcolm Rivera
John Locke's political philosophy is based on the principle of self-ownership and the right to own property. He believed that all members of a society had equal rights and that governments should be limited to securing the lives and property of their citizens. In contrast to Aristotle, who argued that only certain people should participate in the political process, Locke held that all people were created equal. Locke's conception of political power involves the power to make laws, execute penalties, preserve property, and defend the commonwealth from foreign attack. He emphasizes that power must only be used for the public good. This includes goals such as increasing population, improving the military, and strengthening the economy and infrastructure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Equal rights for all members of society | Equality |
| Limited government power | Freedom |
| Separation of church and state | Secularism |
| Protection of citizens' life and property | Security |
| Promotion of the common good | Collectivism |
| Rejection of absolutism and monarchy | Democracy |
| Consent of the governed | Participation |
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What You'll Learn
- Locke believed in equality, unlike Aristotle, and that all members of society had equal rights
- Locke's social contract theory states that without laws, human nature is chaotic
- Locke believed that government should be limited to securing the lives and property of its citizens
- Locke's view of political power includes the preservation of property and defending the commonwealth from foreign attack
- Locke's writings on toleration espoused the right to freedom of conscience and religion
Locke believed in equality, unlike Aristotle, and that all members of society had equal rights
John Locke (1632–1704) is considered one of the most influential political philosophers of the modern era. His ideas on what constitutes a good citizen are rooted in his beliefs about equality and the rights of citizens.
Locke believed that all people are naturally free and equal, contrary to Aristotle's view that some are born to rule and others to be ruled. This belief in equality was a cornerstone of Locke's political philosophy and set him apart from Aristotle and other thinkers of his time. He argued that people have fundamental rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, that are independent of any particular society's laws.
Locke's concept of a social contract further emphasised his belief in equality. He proposed that legitimate political government is formed when individuals in a state of nature voluntarily come together and transfer some of their rights to the government. This government is created by the consent of the people and exists to protect their rights and promote the public good. In this way, Locke saw citizens as having an active role in shaping their society and holding their government accountable.
Locke also recognised a general duty to preserve mankind and help those in need. He believed that rights exist to enable individuals to fulfil their duties, and that citizens should passively obey the government as long as it acted for the public good. However, he also acknowledged that governments could overstep their boundaries and fail to protect the rights of citizens. In such cases, Locke agreed with the Founders' belief that the people have the right to alter or abolish a destructive government and institute a new one.
Locke's ideas on equality and citizen rights were influenced by his religious beliefs. Scholars such as John Dunn and Jeremy Waldron have interpreted Locke's writings in the context of his Christian theism, arguing that his concept of human equality is grounded in his theological foundations. According to Locke, man exists in a world created by God, and governments are established by men to further God's purposes. Thus, his belief in equality was tied to his understanding of natural law and the rights of persons as free and equal.
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Locke's social contract theory states that without laws, human nature is chaotic
John Locke's social contract theory states that without laws, human nature is chaotic. This theory, which was widely accepted at the time, is summed up in James Madison's quote: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." In other words, without laws and government to maintain order and harmony, society would descend into chaos.
Locke's conception of political philosophy is based on the principle of self-ownership and the right to own property. He believed that government should be limited to securing the life and property of its citizens, and that it is only necessary because, in an ideal anarchic state of nature, various problems arise that would make life more insecure. In this state of nature, countries must follow the dictates of natural law and can punish one another for violations to protect the rights of their citizens.
Locke's theory of political power defines political power as the power to make laws and execute penalties, preserve property, and employ the force of the community to execute laws and defend the commonwealth from foreign attack. He stresses that power must only be used for the public good, and that the power of the government is limited to the public good. Legislative power is supreme and has ultimate authority over how force is employed in the commonwealth. The executive power is then charged with enforcing these laws in specific cases.
Locke also believed in the right to freedom of conscience and religion, except when a religion was deemed intolerant. He was critical of hereditary monarchy and patriarchalism and believed that all members of a society had equal rights. He did not agree with the idea that some people are born to rule, and he avoided taking a side on whether men are born into equality or that monarchs are divinely appointed.
In summary, Locke's social contract theory states that without laws to maintain order and harmony, human nature would be chaotic. He believed in limited government to secure the rights and freedoms of citizens, and that power should be distributed and shared to prevent abuse and misuse.
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Locke believed that government should be limited to securing the lives and property of its citizens
John Locke's political philosophy is based on the principle of self-ownership and the right to own property. He argues that governments should be limited to securing the lives and property of their citizens. This belief stems from his idea of an ideal, anarchic state of nature, where various problems would make life insecure. Thus, a minimal state is necessary to protect individuals' natural rights.
Locke's conception of government is limited to fulfilling the purposes of natural law, which include both negative rights and positive goals. The power to promote the common good extends to actions that indirectly contribute to preserving society, such as increasing population, improving the military, and strengthening the economy. This interpretation justifies government intervention in promoting "arms, riches, and multitude of citizens" to protect against foreign attacks.
Locke's view of government stands in contrast to the divine right theory of monarchy and absolutism. He defines political power as the authority to make laws, execute penalties, preserve property, and employ community force to enforce laws and defend against external threats. Legislative power, which he describes as supreme, determines how force will be used for the commonwealth. Executive power enforces these laws in specific cases.
Locke also introduces the concept of federative power, which grants the right to act internationally according to natural law. Countries, being in a state of nature with respect to each other, must follow natural law and can punish violations to protect their citizens' rights. This framework aligns with his belief in the right to freedom of conscience and religion, except when a religion is deemed intolerant.
Locke's ideas influenced the American Constitution, which establishes the responsibility of the government to protect citizens' rights to life, liberty, and property. It also sets limitations on governmental powers, ensuring that certain areas of citizens' lives remain private and beyond government interference. This distribution of powers across branches of government helps prevent abuse and protects individual freedoms.
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Locke's view of political power includes the preservation of property and defending the commonwealth from foreign attack
John Locke's political philosophy is often associated with classical liberalism, emphasising the sanctity of private property, self-ownership, minimal government, and an innate distrust of power. Locke's conception of political power includes the preservation of property rights and the defence of the commonwealth from foreign attack.
Locke viewed political power as "a right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently all less penalties" (Two Treatises 2.3). He believed that power was essential for the functioning of a peaceful commonwealth, but it needed to be vigorously checked and controlled to secure national interests. Locke's concept of the commonwealth is central to his political thought. He saw the commonwealth as distinct from political society, where a legitimate government exists, and a state of war, where individuals fail to abide by the law of reason.
Locke's view of property rights is a fundamental aspect of his philosophy. He is often interpreted as upholding absolute property rights, with the government having no right to take property for the common good without the consent of the owner. This interpretation suggests that taxation should only occur at a rate necessary for the government to protect property rights. However, Locke also recognised duties of charity, arguing that the right to charity and the right to property converge in his theological commitment to the right of each person to the means of preservation.
Locke's conception of the role of government in preserving society is closely tied to his views on property and the commonwealth. He believed that the power to promote the common good includes actions such as increasing population, improving the military, and strengthening the economy and infrastructure, as long as these steps indirectly contribute to preserving society. In the face of foreign attack, Locke advocated for the government promotion of "arms, riches, and multitude of citizens" as a defence against external threats (Works 6:42).
Locke's ideas on political power and the commonwealth extend beyond domestic concerns to the international sphere. He introduced the concept of federative power, which entails the right to act internationally according to the law of nature. In Locke's view, countries are in a state of nature with respect to each other, bound by natural law, and capable of enforcing it to protect their citizens' rights. This perspective underscores the importance of preserving the commonwealth and its independence in the face of foreign powers.
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Locke's writings on toleration espoused the right to freedom of conscience and religion
John Locke is renowned for his writings on toleration, in which he espoused the right to freedom of conscience and religion. Locke's conception of political philosophy was deduced from the principle of self-ownership and the corollary right to own property. He argued that the government's role should be limited to securing the life and property of its citizens. In his view, the government should not encroach on religious liberty, and religious leaders and believers should not seek to use state power to resolve spiritual disagreements.
Locke's argument for religious toleration was influenced by his time in the Dutch Republic, where he met Philipp van Limborch, a Professor of Divinity. Locke's ideas on toleration were also shaped by the political and intellectual climate of his time. He wrote amidst fears that Catholicism might overtake England, and his work proposed religious toleration as a solution to the problem of religion and government. Locke's writings on toleration, such as "A Letter Concerning Toleration," stressed the importance of respecting conscientiously held beliefs, even if one disagrees with them. He argued that freedom of conscience must take priority over one's own conception of truth and that the sincere pursuit of truth is more valuable than possessing truth through conformity.
Locke's defence of toleration was not grounded in ethical relativism. He recognised only "one truth, one way to heaven" but maintained that this path should be pursued by following one's conscience, not through state coercion. In Locke's view, a church is a voluntary association seeking salvation through collective worship. Coercion in religious matters would impede the religious pursuit of salvation, as dishonest worship would be unacceptable to God. Therefore, for Locke, freedom of conscience is at the core of every genuine religious pursuit, and it represents the dividing line between the realms of religion and government.
Locke's writings on toleration had a significant impact on the development of liberalism and the separation of church and state. He argued against atheists, stating that they cannot be tolerated because they deny the existence of God, which dissolves the bonds of human society. Locke's ideas on toleration and freedom of conscience contributed to his overall philosophy on what constitutes a good citizen. He believed that citizens should passively obey the magistrate, even if they step over their constitutional boundaries, as it ensures order, society, and government. However, he also emphasised the importance of limiting governmental powers to protect individual rights and prevent the need for extreme measures like revolution.
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Frequently asked questions
Locke believed that all members of a society had equal rights. He proposed a political philosophy deduced from the principle of self-ownership and the corollary right to own property.
Locke believed that the government should be limited to securing the life and property of its citizens. He also believed that the power of the government is limited to the public good and cannot justify killing, enslaving, or plundering the citizens.
Locke believed that citizens ought to passively obey the magistrate, even if he steps over his constitutional boundaries.
Locke believed in a social contract theory, which states that by agreeing to a social contract in the form of laws and government, order and harmony emerge.
