John locke

Question 1

Background info

Answer 1

• Somerset, 1632
• Key thinker of enlightenment
• father of liberalism
• concept of social contract
• influenced by civil war, fearful of powerful monarchy

Question 2

Key work

Answer 2

• Two Treatises of Government (1989)
• men are by nature free and equal
• inalienable rights

Question 3

Human nature

Answer 3

• Locke did not believe that people were naturally selfish.
• Locke stated that people were bound by a ‘moral code’ to do what is right and natural.
• Accepted the theory of the state of nature but viewed it as one of perfect equality, perfect liberty, and ruled by the law of nature.
• The state of nature was created by God. The state of nature is the natural condition of humankind characterised by human freedom and equality.
• As all men were created equally, no ruler or monarch can be a supreme sovereign and power must be shared equally.

Question 4

Role of government and state

Answer 4

Power belongs to everyone, and the people should be those who give consent to the government.
 The government should be limited and mainly concerned with protecting the people.
 Locke believes that as part of the social contract, people have the right to replace any government that does not protect its citizens.
 Believed in the concept of ‘power plus right’, meaning that if a person’s power was limited by their own rights, the same must apply to the state.
 Defended majority rule and the separation of executive and legislative powers.

Question 5

Society and identity

Answer 5

 Society only materialised when people came together under the law of nature.
 All humanity was created free and equal, and society was formed to resolve conflict.
 Being in society meant entrusting your inalienable rights to the government as part of the social contract.
 No one, including monarchs could discriminate based on religious grounds.
 Women should be afforded the same inalienable rights as men and everyone was entitled to an education.

Question 6

Economy and globalisation

Answer 6

 Property rights were a cornerstone of Locke’s philosophy.
 Although people belonged to God, they own the fruits of their
labour, and individual property rights were natural rights.
 People have the right to collect materials as we ‘mix our labour’
with products of nature.
 Ownership of property is justified if it does not deprive others of
their equal rights to property (e.g. slavery or theft).