Locke (Very Righteous)

Question 1

What is Locke’s Theory of Natural Rights?

Answer 1

• It consists of basic (life, liberty and estate) and special rights, and duties and liberties. Certain rights are inalienable and pre-political.

Question 2

What is Locke’s view on government intervention and revolution?

Answer 2

• Locke believes that an absolute government is not likely to protect natural rights, and therefore establishes a line of argumentation to support his doctrine of limited government with rule by law and division of power.
• The people also have the right to revolution if the government does not honor their natural rights. In contrast to a totalitarian or absolute government, Locke’s limited government can be held accountable to its action.

Question 3

What argument was happening before Locke released his theory?

Answer 3

“voluntarism-intellectualism” and a “voluntarist-rationalist” debate.
• Voluntarism-intellectualism: Voluntarist’s argument makes morality arbitrary and fails to explain why we have an obligation to God
• Voluntarist-rationalist: right and wrong determined by God’s will & we are obliged to obey the will of God simply because it’s the will of God.
• People don’t know what side Locke is on, an argument can be made he is on either side, or on both sides.

Question 4

What does Locke think of those who ignore the “law of nature” (aka. deny natural rights)

Answer 4

“The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which obliges everyone; and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it. . . .those who transgress the law of nature declare that they live by another rule than that of reason and common equity and have renounced reason, the common rule and measure God hath given to mankind.”