John Locke

• Human Nature

  Humans are rational beings, inherently good and capable of moral judgement

  State of nature, individuals are free and equal, governed by natural laws

  Humans are motivated by self interest leading them to respect rights of others
• Human nature: Counterpoints

  Marxist Thinkers: Human nature is shaped by economic conditions, making Locke's idea of inherent goodness unrealistic

  Traditional Conservatives: Human nature is flawed and requires strong authority to maintain order, rejecting Locke's view of natural rights
• Society

  Society formed through a social contract , where individuals consent to create a civil society to protect their natural rights: life , liberty and property

  Emphasises cooperation and mutual benefits as foundational to social order
• Society: Counterpoints

  Social Democrats: Locke's model doesn't adequately address inequalities and needs of the welfare state

  Socialist Thinkers: Locke's emphasis on individual property rights can lead to exploitation and class disparity
• State

  Advocates for a night watchman state, - primary role is to protect individual rights

  Government authority is derived from the consent of the governed and should be restrained by constitutionalism and checks and balances
• State: Counterpoints

  Conservative Thinkers: Critique limited approach, they want stronger enforcement of moral standards

  Social liberals: emphasises civic virtue and participation , arguing that Locke's model is too focused on individual rights
• Economy:

  Locke supports free markets and private property , asserting that individuals have the right to acquire and own property as part of their natural rights

  Property rights are essential for personal freedom and societal prosperity
• Economy: Counterpoints

  Marxists: Critique private property as source of class conflict and exploitation

  Social liberals: unregulated markets lead to monopolies and inequality, necessitating intervention
• Property

  Locke believes private property is a natural right essential for individual freedom and societal prosperity

  Individuals gain ownership through their labour and investment
• Prosperity: Counterpoints

  Marxists: Property ownership leads to class divisions and exploitation

  Socialists: Advocate for communal ownership, arguing that property should serve the community
• Freedom

  Negative freedom - emphasising the absence of interference from state

  Individuals should be free to pursue their interests without harming others
• Freedom: Counterpoints

  Social liberals: true freedom requires enabling conditions and opportunities

  Marxists: critique notion of freedom in capitalist societies , arguing economic constraints limit their true freedom
• Important Work

  Two Treatises of Government 1689
• Examples

  US Declaration of Independence - Locke's ideas about natural rights and government by consent

  UK Human Rights Act 1998 - protects individual rights - emphasis on civil rights