Locke Flashcards
What is the foundation for everything?
God
In what way has God created us?
Free and Equal
What should people uphold above all?
Preserving human life (The natural law)
What is the state of affairs after the natural law?
Everything is free to use, and labor means ownership.
Where does conflict come from in this state?
Inequality
What is the role of government?
to enforce the law of nature
What is a social contract and why do people enter it?
It’s an agreement to give up certain rights to allow a government to protect other rights. Locke argues that people enter a social contract to preserve the law of nature.
What right do we give up by entering the social contract?
We give up the right to enforce the law of nature by ourselves, but we gain a new law which allows for fair judgment and enforcement.
What happens to governments that do not uphold these rules?
Governments that fail to uphold the law of nature, or by breaking or abusing the law, must be replaced by the citizens who entered in the social contract.
