Life and Philosophies of John Locke

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how Locke's influence was most marked on philosophy and politics, particularly liberalism, and specifically on Voltaire. The paper explores how Locke's arguments on liberty and social contract had an impact on the written works of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and other founding fathers of the United States. The paper examines how Locke's critics say that he was a major investor in the English slave-trade through the Royal Africa Company and that he participated in the drafting of the Fundamental Constitution of the Carolinas while serving as Shaftesbury's secretary.

From the Paper:

"These constraints, he believed, would make an economy run smoothly and efficiently because property then would not be wasted, spoiled or hoarded. He saw property as largely confined to material goods. Not only did Karl Marx later adapt Locke's theory on property but also that his idea inspired the Preamble of the US Constitution. He believed that all people had the natural rights to life, liberty and property. He perceived that the original state of nature was one of reason and tolerance wherein all people were equal and independent and no one wanting to harm another's life, health, liberty or possessions."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kemerling, Garth. Locke: Social Order. Political Theory: Philosophy Pages, 2002. http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/4n.htm
• Loflin, L. John Locke on Reason and Faith, 2002. http://www.sullivan-county.com/idlocke_reason.htm
• Microsoft Encarta. John Locke. Online Encyclopedia: Microsoft Corporation, 2006.http://Encarta.msn.com/text_761564503_0/John_Locke.html
• Uzgalis, William. John Locke. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2001. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke
• Wikipedia. John Locke. Media Wiki, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke

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