Isabella Carter
The writers of the US Constitution were influenced by the work of several philosophers, notably John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Locke's theory of the self and his ideas about the natural rights of individuals to life, liberty, and property were particularly influential. Locke's ideas about religious tolerance and his belief in a social contract between the government and its citizens also shaped the thinking of the Founding Fathers. Hobbes, meanwhile, argued that in a state of nature, people lacked the right to defend themselves, and so established a civil society governed by laws. This concept of a social contract also influenced the writers of the Constitution, who sought to create a government that was responsible to the governed and balanced executive and legislative powers with an independent judiciary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | Liberalism |
| Political thought | Protestant Christian views |
| Religious tolerance | Baptist |
| Views on slavery | Anti-slavery |
| Views on slavery | Investor and beneficiary of the slave-trading Royal Africa Company |
| Views on atheism | Against tolerating atheism |
| Redefined subjectivity | Recognition of two types of ideas: simple and complex |
| Influence on other philosophers | Inspired David Hume and George Berkeley |
| Influence on modern psychology | Inspired the subject matter of modern psychology |
| Influence on future politicians and philosophers | Inspired future liberal politicians and philosophers |
| Influence on the Declaration of Independence | Inspired the Declaration of Independence |
| Influence on the U.S. Constitution | Inspired the U.S. Constitution |
| Influence on the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen | Inspired the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen |
| Influence on other documents from the Revolutionary Era | Inspired other documents from the Revolutionary Era |
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What You'll Learn
John Locke's theory of natural rights
John Locke is considered one of the most notable influences on the writers of the US Constitution. His theory of natural rights holds that all individuals are born with inherent and inalienable rights that cannot be taken away or infringed upon by any governing authority. These rights include life, liberty, and property.
Locke's theory of natural rights was founded on the belief that individuals have natural rights that are not granted by any government or authority but are instead fundamental and inalienable rights that all individuals possess simply by virtue of being human. According to Locke, these rights include the right to life because it is essential to human existence, the right to liberty, which entails the freedom to make choices and pursue one's interests without undue interference, and the right to property, which refers to the ability to own and possess resources and belongings.
Locke's theory was influenced by the tradition of natural law, which held that laws should govern human conduct and were not created by societies or governments. One of the earliest natural law thinkers was Cicero, a Roman statesman and philosopher who claimed that justice is a natural condition for human beings. Catholic theologian and philosopher Thomas Aquinas also addressed the notion of natural law, tying it to human reason. Locke insisted that human reason could identify all humans' fundamental, natural rights.
Locke's theory of natural rights provided the foundation for his ideas on limited government and individual freedom. He believed that the preservation of individual rights is one of the driving reasons for entering into the social contract, which is the agreement between the government and its citizens that defines the rights of each party. Social contract theorists argue that obeying laws is justified and motivated by an agreement by all members of society. By entering into civil society, individuals can expect to have their rights respected and consequently enjoy a more stable life than if they lived without a government.
Locke's ideas had a significant influence on the writers of the Declaration of Independence, which adapted his statement that all men have the right to pursue "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Property" to include the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Locke's work also inspired many other famous documents written during the Revolutionary Era, including The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
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Locke's views on religious tolerance
John Locke is one of the two philosophers who inspired the writers of the US Constitution. Locke is known for his statement that all men have the right to pursue "life, liberty, and the pursuit of property". This statement was later altered by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence to state that all men have the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Locke's work also inspired many other famous documents written during the Revolutionary Era, including the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
Locke's philosophy on religious tolerance was contrary to that of Thomas Hobbes, who allowed individuals to maintain their own religious beliefs as long as they outwardly expressed those of the state. Locke rejected Catholic Imperialism and argued that the government should not have an interest in spiritual salvation. He believed that a church that passes its members into the allegiance of another prince cannot be tolerated by the state, as it would allow for a foreign jurisdiction within its territory and potentially threaten the government.
However, Locke's views on atheism suggest that he did not consider religion unimportant. He questioned whether atheism was necessarily inimical to political obedience and suggested that only churches that teach tolerance should be tolerated in society. Locke's view on the difficulty of knowing the "one true religion" also points to the deep uncertainties surrounding religious belief during his time.
Locke's ideas on religious tolerance were reflected in his contributions to the Constitutions of Carolina in 1669, which took a radically congregationalist attitude toward churches, allowing any group to register themselves as a church. His influence can also be seen in Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1779) and in France's secular republican tradition of laïcité.
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Locke's interpretation of the social contract
John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are the three most notable philosophers for creating social contract political philosophy. Locke's interpretation of the social contract is that individuals are born into an "anarchic state of nature", and by exercising natural reason, they form a society and a government by means of a contract among themselves. In other words, people are born into the world without any knowledge or opinions but develop their views based on their society.
Locke's version of the social contract theory states that the only right people give up to enter into civil society is the right to punish other people for violating rights. No other rights are given up, only the right to be a vigilante. This right to be a vigilante returns to the individual if the government breaks the social contract by not punishing those who violate the rights of others.
According to Locke, the obligation to obey civil government under the social contract is conditional upon the protection of the natural rights of each person, including the right to private property. Sovereigns who violate these terms can be justifiably overthrown. Thus, Locke stated a fundamental principle of political liberalism: that there can be no subjection to power without consent. Once political society has been founded, citizens are obligated to accept the decisions of the majority.
Locke believed that people have the natural rights to life and private property. He fused "individualism within the framework of the law of nature and the limits of legitimate government authority". He argued that governments have no right to legislate anything contrary to the law of nature.
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Locke's influence on the Declaration of Independence
John Locke was a 17th-century English philosopher and one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers. His ideas had a profound impact on the writers of the Declaration of Independence, including Thomas Jefferson, who altered Locke's statement that all men have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of property" to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration. Locke's philosophy centred around the concept of natural rights and the social contract, which holds that individuals are born into a state of nature without any societal norms or government, and that society and government are formed through a contract among individuals. This social contract philosophy influenced the belief that ""rational people" should have an organised government, and that government derives its power from the people. Locke also believed in the separation of powers, advocating for a ""branch" system of government with legislative, executive, and judicial branches, an idea that would later be reflected in the US Constitution.
Locke's work, particularly his writings "A Letter Concerning Toleration" and "Second Treatise of Government", heavily influenced the authors of the Declaration of Independence. Many of the ideas and language in the Declaration can be traced back to Locke's philosophy. For example, Locke's concept of "inalienable rights" is reflected in the Declaration's references to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Locke's belief in the importance of individualism within the framework of natural law and legitimate government authority also resonated with the writers of the Declaration.
The influence of Locke's philosophy can be seen in the writings and speeches of the Founding Fathers, including John Adams and George Washington, who authored the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress two years before the Declaration of Independence. Locke's justification of revolt, based on his theory of natural rights, provided a theoretical foundation for the American colonies' declaration of independence from England. Locke's ideas on popular sovereignty, which holds that government is obligated to follow the will of the majority that created it, and that all citizens are equal in the eyes of the government, were particularly influential in shaping the colonists' thinking.
Locke's impact extended beyond the Declaration of Independence, as he inspired many other famous documents during the Revolutionary Era, including the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. His ideas on natural rights and the social contract had a lasting impact on political and legal developments in the ensuing decades, influencing the design of the US government and inspiring similar movements for self-government and individual liberties around the world.
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Locke's impact on the Enlightenment
John Locke was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers. He is commonly known as the "father of liberalism" and is considered one of the first British empiricists. Locke's philosophy inspired and reflected Enlightenment values, including the recognition of individual rights and equality, criticism of arbitrary authority, advocacy of religious tolerance, and a scientific temperament. Locke's work influenced Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Scottish Enlightenment thinkers, and American revolutionaries. Locke's political theory directly influenced the US Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
Locke's philosophy of mind is often cited as the origin of modern conceptions of personal identity and the psychology of self. He argued that the mind was a blank slate at birth, contrary to Cartesian philosophy, which asserts that we are born with innate ideas. Locke's belief in empiricism holds that knowledge is determined by experience derived from sense perception. This concept had a profound influence on the development of epistemology and political philosophy.
Locke's account of language has also been debated by scholars. While some, like Noam Chomsky, attribute the development of contemporary linguistics to Descartes rather than Locke, others, like Hans Aarsleff, believe Locke played a pivotal role in shaping the way we think about ourselves and our relationship with the world. Locke's ideas on education were also influential, with his works being published and widely circulated during his lifetime and the eighteenth century.
Locke's political thought was grounded in the notion of a social contract between citizens and the importance of toleration, especially in matters of religion. His ideas on the social contract influenced the writers of the Declaration of Independence, including Thomas Jefferson. Locke's statement that all men have the right to pursue "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Property" was adapted by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence to include the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Locke's work also inspired other documents of the Revolutionary Era, such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
In conclusion, John Locke's impact on the Enlightenment was significant and far-reaching. His ideas on individual rights, empiricism, language, education, and the social contract shaped political and philosophical thought during the Enlightenment and beyond. Locke's influence extended to Europe and America, contributing to the development of liberal and democratic ideals that continue to inform governance and the protection of basic rights and freedoms.
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Frequently asked questions
John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Locke's theory of two types of ideas, simple and complex, influenced modern psychology. He also believed that in a natural state, all people were equal and had a right to defend their "life, liberty, and property". Thomas Jefferson altered this statement in the Declaration of Independence to include the "pursuit of happiness".
Locke believed that people naturally have the rights to life and private property. Hobbes believed that right and wrong did not exist in the world. Both philosophers, along with Rousseau, had their own interpretations of the social contract.
The writers of the US Constitution were influenced by Locke and Hobbes' belief in the social contract, which states that individuals are born into an anarchic state of nature and then form a society and government by means of a contract. This idea of natural rights influenced political and legal developments in the ensuing decades.
