John Locke Flashcards
What type of liberal was Locke
Seen as the cornerstone of the original version of liberalism, known as classical liberalism
How did he challenge the rule of the monarchy
Denied the traditional medieval principle that the state was part of God’s creation. Disputed that the state had been created by a celestial power, including monarchs who had been given divine right. Rejected the notion that normal people were subjects of the state, with a quasi religious obligation to obey the monarch’s commands. He argued that a legitimate state would be one created by mankind to serve mankind’s interests
What his version of Hobbes’ state of nature
Locke asserted that prior to the creation of the state there was a natural society that served mankind’s interests reasonably well. He describes this natural society as the state of nature. This idea of a state of nature was very different to Hobbes’ idea of one that was nasty, brutish and short. Owing to his upbeat view of human nature and his idea that it was guided by rationalism, he also believed that the state of nature was underpinned by natural rights, natural laws and natural justice and was therefore not one that people would have desperately wished to leave. The alternative state of law (the modern state as we know it) was designed to improve upon an essentially tolerable situation by resolving disputed quicker than was the case under the state of nature
What was the state of law and what did Locke say it needed to do
For Locke the state of law would be legitimate only if it respected natural rights and natural laws, ensuring that individuals living under formal laws were no worse off than in the state of nature. The state’s structure must therefore embody the natural rights and natural liberties that had preceded it. The ideal state should reflect the principle that its citizens had voluntarily consented to accept the state’s rulings, in return for the state improving their situation (this is known as the social contract theory)
What did Locke say the state needed to be like
Because of its contractual nature, the state would have to embody the principle of limited govt – limited to governing within pre agreed rules and always requiring the ongoing consent of the governed. The state’s limited character would be confirmed by its dispersal of powers. For instance, the executive and legislative branches of the state would be separate, while it parliamentarians would be separate from the judiciary
