John Locke Research Paper

Locke’s views on liberalism

Locke set out the process of domestication or tames Hobbes fear or harsh theory of absolute government which has found few defenders in his own days. Locke’s most important work of political theory is his second treatise of constitutional government which was preceded by the 1st treatise which is much longer and pain taking deconstruction of divine right of king by Robert filmed.

The second treatise set out Locke’s positive theory of government- theory of parliamentary superiority, rule of law and constitutional government and it intend as practical book and he wrote this to capture the common sense of his time. Locke is continuously against political absolutism and insists that the point of political is to avoid

In Locke’s version of state of nature is pre-political rather than pre social coz man is social by nature he believed. And it a state of peace, mutual assistance, and self-preservation, govern by natural laws. For Locke knowledge for most part is rooted in sensation and thus like Hobbes believed that experience is the real source of knowledge. In this state of nature people have natural rights such as right to life, liberty and property. He defended his notion of natural rights by claiming that men are naturally free and equal as a part of the justification for understanding legitimises political government, which itself is result of a social

For him truth is not absolute but must be modified and expanded as new experience is gained .Two stages occurs first stage is social contract to form society which require consent of every party to the contract and second stage is political contract to create a common authority require only majority to form government and he considered political contract as a fiduciary agreement. A contract of Locke is to hand over some right to government and retain some right. For Locke government must be limited since relationship between itself and citizen is reciprocal. He wanted church to be separate from state so that state’s power would be limited. Power by consent i.e. political power is limited by definition.

Sovereignty

For Locke sovereignty is popular sovereignty since the final author resides with the people. He clearly argues that if government should violate its trust by using illegitimate force and which is the violation of social contract and thus people have the right to revolt.