John Locke

1632–1704

Nationality: English

Historical Period: The Early Modern Period

John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher who is considered to be one of the first philosophers of the Enlightenment and the father of classical liberalism. In his major work Two Treatises of Government Locke rejects the idea of the divine right of kings, supports the idea of natural rights (especially of property), and argues for a limited constitutional government which would protect individual rights.

See also our collection of extracts, essays, and other resources on Locke.

See the Liberty Matters online discussions of John Locke on Property, John Locke on Commercial Society and John Locke on Commercial Society

For additional information about John Locke see the following:

• Timeline on the Life and Work of John Locke
• Bibliographical Essay on John Locke and Property
• Reading List on An Introduction to the Political Thought of John Locke
• Topic on The English Revolution
• Debate on The Divine Right of Kings
• Debate on Religious Toleration

Quotes from John Locke:

• John Locke on “perfect freedom”
• John Locke on the rights to life, liberty, and property
• John Locke on the separation of Church and Magistrate
• John Locke believed that the magistrate should not punish sin but only violations of natural rights and public peace
• John Locke on the idea that “wherever law ends, tyranny begins”
• John Locke tells a “gentleman” how important reading and thinking is to a man of his station whose “proper calling” should be the service of his country

Title from John Locke:

• Author: BOLL 1: John Locke, “Of Property” (1689)
• Author: British Moralists vol. 2
• Author: Encouragement of Irish Linen Manufacture (August 1697)
• Author: The Enhanced Edition of The Two Treatises of Government (1689)
• Author: A Letter concerning Toleration and Other Writings
• Author: Proposed Poor Law Reform (October 1697)
• Author: The Two Treatises of Civil Government (Hollis ed.)
• Author: The Works of John Locke in Nine Volumes
• Author: The Works, vol. 1 An Essay concerning Human Understanding Part 1
• Author: The Works, vol. 2 An Essay concerning Human Understanding Part 2 and Other Writings
• Author: Works of John Locke, vol. 3
• Author: The Works of John Locke, vol. 4 Economic Writings and Two Treatises of Government
• Author: The Works, vol. 5 Four Letters concerning Toleration
• Author: The Works, vol. 6 (The Reasonableness of Christianity)
• Author: The Works, vol. 7 (Essays and Notes on St. Paul’s Epistles)
• Author: The Works, vol. 8 (Some Thoughts Concerning Education, Posthumous Works, Familiar Letters)
• Author: The Works of John Locke, vol. 9 (Letters and Misc. Works)