John Locke Flashcards
What is John Locke’s book called?
Two Treatise of Government (1690)
What did John Locke’s book aim to do?
Attack the idea of the monarchy’s natural right to rule over others and establishing a liberal justification for a minimal state.
What was Locke’s view on humans?
Humans are naturally free and independent and are not naturally under the authority of another person.
What is meant by a “state of nature”?
A way to describe the hypothetical original characteristics of human beings and how people were related to each other in a time before states and organised governments.
What is “Locke’s state of nature”?
Not a time of war but a time of peace
What did Locke argue about the state of nature?
Humans were perfectly free, equal and born with natural rights to property and bound to the law of nature where nobody should harm someone in respect of their life, liberty and possessions.
What would happen in John Locke’s state of nature?
There would be clashes of interest between free individuals which would limit individuals ability to advance their own happiness, individuals would form a social contract as a form of state to act as a neutral umpire.
What is the social contract?
A contract between individuals and the government, where the individual agrees to follow laws, in return the state will improve their lives
