John Locke: Key Political and Philosophical Works

Main Works

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1684)

• Empiricism: Unlike Hobbes, Locke held a less pessimistic view of human nature.
• Tabula Rasa: Locke believed in the power of education to shape individuals from childhood.
• Cognitive Limits: He explored the inherent boundaries of human understanding.

A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689)

• Church and State: Advocated for the separation of religious institutions from government authority to ensure peace.
• Persuasion over Violence: Argued that religious conversion should occur through persuasion rather than force.
• Freedom of Conscience: By removing the state's coercive power from religion, Locke sought to eliminate the root cause of religious wars.

Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693)

Note: While these works were published around 1689, they were previously banned in England prior to the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina (1669)

“Modern” Considerations

• Advocated for tolerance toward Protestant sects.
• Supported the admission of censitary suffrage.
• Proposed that a democratic liberal state relies on the active intervention of its people.

“Pre-modern” Considerations

• Labor Systems: Acknowledged the prevalence of slavery and indentured servitude, reflecting an investment in human trade.
• Juridical Statuses: Established three distinct statuses: landgraves, caciques, and lord proprietors.
• Social Hierarchy: Divided into hereditary classes (landgraves and caciques) and land-owning "Lord Proprietors."

Two Treatises of Government (1689)

Supporting the Exclusion Crisis

Associated with the Glorious Revolution of 1688, these treatises provide a framework for political legitimacy. Locke’s central thesis is that if a government becomes tyrannical—by violating the pursuit of happiness or infringing upon freedom—the people have a moral duty to rebel.

Refuting Robert Filmer

Locke examined the Bible to challenge the doctrine of absolute power, such as the divine right claimed by Louis XIV. He categorized power into three types:

• Patriarchal: Authority within the family.
• Political: Governance that is not inherently monarchical.
• Despotic: Tyrannical and absolute power.

Locke concluded that neither the Old nor New Testament provides a justification for absolute, despotic rule.