Key Thinker- John Locke (1632-1704) Flashcards
Who is John Locke and what is his most famous work?
John Locke is considered the father of liberal philosophy, with his book Two Treatises of Government (1690) regarded as the cornerstone of liberal thought.
What central questions did Locke raise that were important to classical liberalism?
Locke questioned human nature and the type of state that would be appropriate based on that nature.
What traditional, medieval principle about the state did Locke deny?
Locke denied that the state was part of God’s creation and rejected the idea that monarchs had a ‘divine right’ to govern.
What did Locke believe about the relationship between people and the state?
He believed the state should be created by mankind to serve mankind’s interests, arising only from the consent of the governed, not from a divine mandate.
What is Locke’s concept of the ‘state of nature’?
Locke described the state of nature as a ‘natural’ society guided by rationalism, underpinned by natural laws, natural liberties, and natural rights, such as the right to property.
How did Locke’s view of the state of nature differ from Thomas Hobbes’ view?
Unlike Hobbes, who saw the state of nature as ‘nasty and brutish,’ Locke viewed it as generally tolerable and guided by rationalism.
Why did Locke believe people would form a ‘state of law’ or modern state?
The state of law was designed to improve upon the tolerable state of nature by resolving disputes more efficiently.
When would the ‘state of law’ be legitimate, according to Locke?
The state of law would be legitimate only if it respected natural rights and natural laws, ensuring individuals were never worse off than in the state of nature.
What principle did Locke’s ideal state reflect, related to the consent of the governed?
The state must reflect that its citizens had voluntarily consented to its rulings in return for improved conditions, a principle later known as ‘social contract theory.’
What does the ‘contractual’ nature of the state require, according to Locke?
It requires limited government, representing the interests of the governed and needing their ongoing consent.
How should the state’s power be structured, according to Locke?
The state’s powers should be dispersed, with a separation between the executive and legislative branches, and between lawmakers (parliamentarians) and law enforcers (judiciary).
