Locke’s Moral Philosophy
John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher and one of the most influential figures of the Enlightenment period. He is best known for his work, Two Treatises of Government (1690). This piece focuses on his theory of natural rights, specifically his take on moral rights in society.
Locke wrote that the purpose of government is to protect the life, liberty, and property of all citizens. This arises from the view that all men are free by nature and must use their reason to continue exercising this freedom. This means that governments should not interfere with individual natural rights unless it is necessary to protect those rights, or further the interests of the common good.
In terms of morality, Locke believed that individuals should be allowed to do whatever they choose so long as it does not harm another. This is based on the idea of the “law of nature” and is part of the broader philosophy of natural law theory. According to Locke, this law is innate to humans and is written into the structure of society, so following it should automatically be part of an individuals conscience.
Locke uses what is known as the social contract theory to explain how morality and responsibility work together in a state of nature. According to this theory, individuals agree to enter into a government in order to increase their safety and security. In return, they take on certain obligations with respect to each other such as respecting the rights of others and not taking what does not belong to them. This creates a moral compass for individuals as they interact with one another within the confines of a state.
At the heart of Locke’s moral philosophy is the idea of natural rights. He argued that all humans are born with certain rights that should never be taken away and must be respected by others. This is based on the belief that the individual is “free at the state of nature” and should not be denied these rights by an authority or a majority. According to Locke, the most important natural right is the right to life, which is followed by liberty and property.
In his writings, Locke also discusses the right to punish offenders. He proposes that if an individual has violated somebody else’s rights, then they are subject to punishment. But, he does not believe in capital punishment as a suitable retribution for crimes, arguing that this would be going against the person’s natural right to life. He also argues that if the punishment exceeds the crime, then it is not just.
Moral philosophy is a complex field, and John Locke’s ideas have been a major influence in the development of this field. His take on natural rights, the social contract, and other moral issues have helped to shape our modern societies. His work is important for understanding the development of moral thought in the Western World, and how it has informed the modern state of democracy.
