The great English philosopher and political theorist John Locke laid much of the foundation of the Enlightenment period as well as having a major role to the synthesis of the idea of a liberal and limited government. He is regarded by many as the father of, what is now known as, British Empiricism. He’s also had great influence in fields such as theology with his theories of religious tolerance as well as educational theories. He published extensive essays such as An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, in which he discusses the way humans acquire knowledge by applying an empiricist theory; suggesting that we acquire ideas by directly interacting with our environment (Connolly, n.d.). The Two Treaties of Government, one of his most famous political works, introduces the idea that the power of government is with the people and he uses arguments such as natural rights and social contract to support his claim. John Locke has published many works but this essay will be focusing on a limited scope of his works, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, The Two Treaties of Government, and An Essay Concerning Toleration and how they have influenced the modern western world.
John Locke was a practicing physician, with his choice of career ultimately leading him to the First Earl of Shaftsbury; a truly decisive relationship in Locke’s career. He pursued his education in medicine at Oxford University and went on to become a licensed practitioner. The First Earl of Shaftsbury invited