How Did John Locke Influence Society

His writings had a great impact in the perception of the leaders of America. John Locke was an English philosopher who highly influenced the Founding Fathers. He highly believed in natural science and in the growing middle class and represented the principles of the Enlightenment. In an essay Locke wrote concerning human understanding in 1690, Locke denied the idea of native beliefs and argued that every individual is born with a blank mind and that it is the environment that shapes the individual. Thomas Hobbes 's belief that kings govern by divine power was rejected by Locke. He believed that every human being was born equal and that the surroundings in the environment was what molded everyone. Locke argued that people are blessed with some natural rights such as liberty, life, and property. Locke was the philosopher that exposed the concept of governmental checks and balances which later became the foundation for the U. S. Constitution.

Locke and Hobbes started with a central notion that people with similar “state of nature” would on their own accord come together as a state. Locke believed that individual would not perpetually be at war with each other. He believed humans began with a state of natural characteristics of absolute freedom with no government in site. Hobbes work differs from that of Locke’s because he felt people needed a strong central authority to ward off the inherent evil and anarchic state of man. Locke believed that within the state of nature man would have stronger morals and thus limit their actions. Locke also, credited people with the ability to do the right thing within a group. And the natural rights and civil society where Hobbes differentiated with this by believing that people had to resolve their natural rights and the their were privileges granted by the sovereign. Locke believed the relationship between citizens and government took the form of a social contract, in which in exchange for order and protections provided by institutions the citizens agree to surrender some of the freedoms within the state of nature. This was also, agreed that power of the state was not absolute but exercised according to law. If broken by the state it forfeits and the contract becomes void. This allots for the citizens of the state to have a “voice” and power for change to replace the government with moral obligation by the governed. Hobbes believed absolute power was the price man should

Unlike Hobbes, John Locke honestly believes in the good in man and affirms that they have the ability to maintain a civil society with limited government involvement. He credits man’s want to live in a safe and comfortable environment as the reason why they would come together peacefully, not the aggressive rule of government. Locke also believes that there should be a separation in powers of government in order to properly serve the

These intellectuals attempted to generate an explanation for the purpose of government and expressed their ideal political structure to find a solution to the inequalities in the distribution of power. The changing intellectual and social perceptions of the human condition led to new insights and questions of the way in which humans were ruled: “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” (Rousseau 2). This conveys The Philosophe belief that liberty is lost when political rule is too strict, to the point where one is unable to truly live. John Locke deduced in his two Treatises on Government that humans have natural born rights to life, liberty and property (“Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau on Government”). His ideal government protected these natural rights and permitted the freedom of its people to conduct their lives in a way that they see as best fit. He believed that the government existed to serve the people’s will, thus the power laid in the majority (“Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau on Government”). Thomas Hobbes had an opposing view to that of Locke’s government. Hobbes advocated for the monarchy and absolutism, as this form provides strong political stability (Elahi 2). He believed that the people were indebted to the government and protected by the ruler, only if they surrendered their rights and freedoms under a social contract (Elahi 3). Jean

Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, and René Descartes gave the Founding Fathers and the colonist new thoughts and opinions to ponder. This became a major concept in the formation of America, The Constitution, and the American way of life. Without the thoughts of these famous thinkers, America would be a much

John Locke strongly influenced American government. In the Declaration of Independence for example, the idea of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" was a philosophical idea from Locke. He believed that one who governs must gain authority through the consent of those they govern. Locke also thought that the ones with authority must protect the natural rights of their citizens and if they didn't, then the citizens would have the right to overthrow the government. All these ideas deeply influenced Thomas Jefferson, which is apparent in the Declaration of Independence. His ideas were also used by slavery abolitionist and women suffragist.

One of his most important views and one of the most well know and still followed by the government is the separation of powers sating that one branch cannot have all the power. The three branches are judicial, Legislative and the Executive branch being used in our government today. This was done through the system of checks and balances giving each branch the power o over right if any of them commit and injustice. Another influence left behind by Locke is that all humans need basic rights the once we are naturally born with such as life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happies. Hobbes impact of his philosophy was seen in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Hobbes believed that all men deserved equality, he writes about not once single person must have more than another providing a foundation of equality in government. Yet this view help create the fourteen amendment, stopping any issue that denied a person under the

John Locke was an incredibly encouraging figure in the development of the ideals and methods of political functioning in the United States of America. John Locke applied many of his studies to write one of his most famous and moving works. “The Second Treatises of Government” is the document which ultimately struck the United States in their creation of the Declaration of Independence. In Locke’s work he had focused on the idea that governments shouldn’t be dictated by anyone person, but ultimately should be a united entity in which everyone in the country has a say in what is happening. For example, John Locke believed that the government should be in charge of deciding who should be the leading figure of power and protecting their citizens’ “Life, Liberty, and Property”. He also believed that if the government failed to fulfill their duties of protecting their people and establishing a limit of power for the leading figure of the country, it was the responsibility of the citizens to “overthrow the government.” John Locke kept a similar mindset to that of Hobbes when it comes to the government and its power. Locke’s work and ideas would go on to be highly influential upon Thomas Jefferson during the process of writing the draft of the Declaration of Independence. In this document Jefferson kept very close ties to Locke’s ideas to create what he believed would be the ideal government.

the government can punish a man by taking away his property, put him in jail, and all his outward possessions but once the State tries to take away or impose on a man’s religion, and then the government is crossing the line. These ideas eventually laid the foundation for American society. In fact one of the main reasons early British settlers came to America was because they wanted freedom of religion, they were tired of the king punishing them for their personal beliefs. This is one of the key philosophies which Locke wrote about in “A Letter Concerning Toleration,” there are many examples in history where this philosophy is ignored and resulted tragedy and atrocities. A good example would be Nazi Germany where the state imprinted their beliefs

John Locke was one of the philosophers who sparked the idealism of pro representation in the colonies in North America. The ideas of John Locke were seen as a guideline for the British colonies to set a foundation for democracy; it is seen as. His book Two Treatises of Government was “an appeal to heaven” and was planning to rid Charles the II of his position as a monarchy. John Locke did not intend to start up a revolution in the British colonies, but rather intended his book to critique against Absolutism. To some extent John Locke’s ideas were good for the colonies in North America and the United States.

Has it ever crossed your mind to think about some important figures in history? Have you ever questioned who John Locke was or why he is important? For starter we can start thanking John Locke for some of the privileges we have today. Locke and Hobbes where two political philosophers who argued about whether government was a necessary evil or nothing more than a predatory protection racket that hindered peaceful cooperation. Locke said government was a criminal racket and was not needed, while Hobbs said that people would destroy themselves without government. John Locke influenced everything from politics to religion based concepts. If John Locke was to never existed then who would have came up with natural rights and every other theory John Locke had? Its simple no one was as influential as he was and no one would have probably had the same ideas as him. Our government system and our

John Locke’s belief that all humans were born equal and had the right to life, liberty, and property influenced the basis of The United States and France’s government. John Locke felt that the government’s power came from the people; this provided a foundation for democracy and the U.S Constitution. France fought for enlightened principles like liberty, democracy, and equality after they saw that America was successful in their revolt against their absolute monarch. John Locke along with other enlightened philosophes principles were incorporated into their government.

The ideas presented by Hobbes and Locke are often in opposition. Hobbes views humanity much more pessimistically; viewing men as evil according to natural law and government a way to eliminate natural law. Locke takes a much more optimistic stance; viewing government a means to preserve the state of nature and enhance it as men are naturally peaceful and equal. Discarding the differences in ideology, their ideas were radical for their time. The interest they took in natural law, man's natural characteristics, and the role of government, provided inspiration for, and was the focus of many literary works for the future.

John Locke was considered one of the most influential political philosophers during the 1600’s. His views are still taught and extremely influential in our modern society. His second treatise of government is read and discussed in universities across Canada and is highly respected. He lived in an era where conservatism and Christianity dominated, but his views did not align with the world at the time. He had a very liberalistic mindset and is to be considered the “Father of Liberalism.” The Bible presented a problem to Locke because, at the time, the bible had authority. In “The Second Treatise of Government and a Letter Concerning toleration”, John Locke goes up against the bible and the views it presents. In his writings, Locke misquotes

John Locke is a major part in our world. John Locke changed the way that the world thinks. He was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, United Kingdom, and died on October 28, 1704 in High Laver, United Kingdom. John Locke was a Philosopher, political philosopher, and a physician. John is famous for his work as a Philosophers and his theories.