John Locke Flashcards
Birth and Background of John Locke
He was born in 1632 in England to a middle-class family who were sympathetic to the parliamentarians and the Whigs during the civil war. He lectured in Oxford but left due to differences with the faculty on account of his liberal views on government.
He became involved in Whigs’ politics and the opposition of James ii of England led him unto Exile, although James was removed and Williams of Orange, married to Mary became King.
Throughout his career he has different thoughts from Hobbes.
What did he disagree with Hobbes on?
He disagreed that man had no ability and should always be ruled and subjected to a superior authority.
He also disagreed on the idea of an absolute monarch.
What were his thoughts on Human nature?
Locke considered humans to be decent fellows, orderly, and capable of ruling themselves. He argued that if all men were given equal opportunities, they were bound to have equal mental development, to him, mental and not physical development mattered.
He also argued that all men were born equal and every individual has the right to life, liberty and property
What were his thoughts on the state of nature?
For Locke, life in the state of nature was difficult because each man has to interpret the law of nature himself and enforce it himself, hence, it was difficult to deal with offenders because each man was a judge of his own case.
What were his thoughts on the social contract?
He talked about 2 contracts, one leads to the formation of CIVIL SOCIETY and the other leads to the establishment of the GOVERNMENT.
Each man gave up some if his freedom to be ruled by a sovereign. The sovereign was a part of the contact and if he abuses the terms of the contract and ruled arbitrarily, the people can revolt.
Society is organized for the protection of human life, safeguarding it’s property and freedom.
Men surrendered their rights to be judges and the power is now vested in the community instead of individuals however, they still retain their rights to liberty, life and property.
What were his thoughts on Absolute authority and the state?
He claimed that the state existed for those who formed it and not the vice versa. The government holds power and derives its authority from the consent of the people.
He viewed absolute power as illegitimate and advocated a limited sovereign state.
If a government doesn’t perform it’s functions properly, the people had the supreme power to dismiss it; this didn’t signify a return to the state of nature like Hobbes claimed. The people granted the legsslature power to make law, they could also judge whether it’s performance was satisfactory.
To Hobbes, men were free and became subjects of political authority by consent
Which books were written by John Locke?
Two treaties on government
Essay on the law of nature
