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Book No. – 3 (Political Science)
Book Name – A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx (Subrata Mukherjee & S. Ramaswamy)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. LIFE SKETCH
2. LOCKE AND THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION
2.1. Filmer’s Theory
3. LOCKE’S POLITICAL THEORY
3.1. Freedom and Rights
3.2. Nature of Political Authority
3.3. Consent and Political Obligation
3.4. Parental and Patriarchal Authority.
3.5. Property
4. CONCLUSION
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LANGUAGE
John Locke
Chapter – 6
Table of Contents
- John Locke stands out not for the cogency of his arguments today but for his profound understanding of how philosophy relates to practical living.
- Locke’s psychological insights are imperfect, and his logic often seems odd. However, his influence on the idea that politics is a moral sphere changed the perception of citizenship and individual responsibility.
- Before Locke, politics was intertwined with being a good man and a good citizen. Locke argued that citizenshipbecame a specific duty and challenge, requiring individuals to recognize their responsibility or disobey their conscience.
- The Two Treatises emerged from a politically turbulent time, characterized by plots, conspiracies, and government repression. This context is crucial to understanding the radical political language used by Locke.
- Locke’s liberalism marked a turning point as there were no liberals before him, though there were many socialistsbefore Marx.
- Locke’s vision of constitutionalism, freedom, consent, property, and tolerance significantly impacted the development of Western democracies, especially in England, America, France, and Holland.
- Locke’s ideas deeply influenced the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the U.S. Constitution. His notion that the world in the beginning was like America symbolized the possibility of plenty, freedom, and order.
- Locke’s influence extended beyond politics, affecting empiricism (with thinkers like Hume, Berkeley, and J.S. Mill) and early feminism (influencing figures like Mary Astell, Catherine Macaulay, and Mary Wollstonecraft).
- Locke’s theory of labor as a source of value was foundational for both capitalism and socialism, used by Marx to criticize capitalism.
- Locke’s advocacy for toleration in intellectual and religious matters helped establish a society where free enquirycould flourish, marking him as a key figure in the Enlightenment.
- Locke was evasive about the authorship of the Two Treatises, publishing them anonymously, and only acknowledging them indirectly in 1704.
- The Two Treatises were published post-Glorious Revolution (1688), after the deposition of King James II and the accession of William and Mary. This revolution marked the beginning of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary supremacy, paving the way for representative democracy.
- Locke’s Second Treatise emphasized constitutionalism, limited state power, and individual rights, which were crucial for the evolution of democratic systems.
- Locke was often seen as a collectivist because of his support for the majority’s will governing society, yet he remained a champion of individuality and a critic of patriarchism.
- Locke was foundational in laying the groundwork for women’s rights by opposing patriarchal rule, an important precursor to modern feminist thought.
LIFE SKETCH
- John Locke was born in Somerset, England, in 1632 to a family of Puritan traders and landowners.
- His family was not wealthy, but Locke later enjoyed a comfortable income from family estates, allowing him to live as a gentleman scholar.
- Locke attended Westminster School (1647) and then Christchurch College (1652-1667), where he maintained connections until 1684.
- He completed his MA in 1658, became a lecturer in Greek (1661), rhetoric (1663), and a censor of moral philosophy (1664).
- Locke participated in chemical and medical research with figures like Robert Boyle, Richard Lower, and Thomas Willis, learning the importance of sustained observation and humility in scientific discovery.
- Locke was influenced by Descartes and Gassendi, and became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1688.
- His first works, Two Tracts on Government (1660-1662) and Essays on the Law of Nature (1664), argued against religious toleration and consent as the basis for legitimate government.
- In 1665-1666, Locke undertook a diplomatic mission to Cleves and met Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper (later Earl of Shaftesbury) in 1666, marking a turning point in his life.
- Locke became a close associate of Shaftesbury, who underwent a liver operation under Locke’s supervision in 1668, strengthening their bond.
- Locke learned about state responsibilities and economic prosperity from Shaftesbury, who was committed to toleration and freedom of the press.
- Locke was influenced by Shaftesbury’s role in the Exclusion Crisis of 1680, and adopted the view that consent was crucial for legitimate government.
- Locke was suspected of writing A Letter from a Person of Quality to his Friend in the Country, angering the government and forcing him into exile in France in 1675.
- In France, Locke befriended French doctors, scientists, and theologians and translated Pierre Nicole’s moral essays.
- Locke’s time with Shaftesbury in the Exclusion Crisis helped shape his political views, including his support for toleration and consent in governance.
- In 1683, Locke went into exile in Holland, fearing association with the Rye House Plot and the Monmouth Rebellion.
- Locke’s Christchurch College studentship was withdrawn in 1684, and he maintained secrecy around his work due to the political climate and the execution of Algernon Sidney.
- During his exile, Locke completed his Essay Concerning Human Understanding (begun in 1671) and published The Letter on Toleration anonymously in 1689.
- After the Glorious Revolution (1688), Locke returned to England and became famous, publishing several influential works.
- He spent his later years in the household of Sir Francis and Lady Masham in the countryside.
- Locke was involved in the English colonies, opposing their colonization as he believed it depleted England’s resources and could lead to colonies becoming independent.
- Locke played an important role in the repeal of the Act for the Regulation of Printing (1695) and the re-coinage of English currency in the 1690s.
- His minor works included Raising the Value of Money (1691), Some Considerations on the Lowering of Interests(1691), Second Letter on Toleration (1691), Third Letter on Toleration (1692), Some Thoughts on Education(1693), and The Reasonableness of Christianity (1695).
- Locke passed away on October 29, 1704.