John Locke

Famous Locke Works

1. A Letter Concerning Toleration, 1689 2. Two treatises of Government, 1689 3. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1690 4. Some Thoughts Concerning Education, 1693

Hobbes and Locke agree on a few points...

1. Human nature allows people to be selfish 2. The right to defend private property is not enough

Locke influenced what/whom?

1. The Glorious Revolution 2. The American Revolution 3.The writings of Voltaire 4. The writings of Rousseau, and consequently, the French Revolution

John Locke's essential beliefs (Pt. 1)

1. all men were created equal by God and thus all have natural rights, including... a) the right to government by the consent of the people b) the right to life, c) the right to liberty, d) the right to property (aka "pursuit of happiness").

John Locke's essential beliefs (Pt. 2)

2. Locke believed that the government should operate within the consent of the people it governs and should protect and respect peoples' God-given rights.

John Locke's essential beliefs (Pt. 3)

3. Locke strongly supported people's right to rebel against a government if it failed to protect and honor their rights. Indeed, he asserted that at times, people did not only have a right, but an obligation to rebel.

John Locke's essential beliefs (Pt. 4)

4. People are reasonable, tolerant, and moral. They begin life with a brain that is the equivalent of a blank slate, and who they become is a result of their experiences.

John Locke influenced what/whom? (Pt.2)

5. Alexander Hamilton 6. James Madison 7. Thomas Jefferson 8. And more...

A Letter Concerning Toleration, 1689 (Pt. 3)

Based on three major and very rational reasons for tolerance; (3) Coercing religious uniformity would lead to more social disorder than simply allowing diversity.

A Letter Concerning Toleration, 1689 (Pt. 2)

Based on three major and very rational reasons for tolerance; 2. Even if they (earthly judges, being either state or individual) could evaluate truth claims of competing religious standpoints, enforcing a single "true religion" would not have the desired effect, because belief cannot be compelled by violence.

John Locke strongly upheld and advocated....

Empiricism- empiricism emphasizes the role of experience and evidence, especially sensory perception, and uses this in the formation of ideas. This goes against the idea of innate ideas or tradition, known as rationalism.

A Letter Concerning Toleration, 1689 (Pt. 1)

Locke wrote this book in the aftermath of the European wars of religion, and based it on three major and very rational reasons for tolerance; 1. Earthly judges, the state in particular, and human beings generally, cannot dependably evaluate the truth-claims of competing religious standpoints;

John Locke is known as who?

The 'Father of Liberalism'

John Locke:

The leading Enlightenment philosopher,