John Locke

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses John Locke's belief in a social contract and his belief that government should protect the natural rights of life, liberty and property of its people.

From the Paper:

"Locke is cited to be the first British Empiricist. He believed that government was only legitimate if it had consent from the people. Locke also believed that government protected the natural rights of life, liberty and property. If the people did not give consent to the government then there was no legitimacy and they had a right to rebel against the government that was imposing its will. Locke believed that there was a social contract between government and the people to govern in the way the people wanted. This paper will discuss Locke's belief in a social contract and his belief that government should protect the natural rights of life, liberty and property of its people (Locke, 1980, p. 9)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Civil Society & Property. (9 August, 2006). Philosophypages.com. Retrieved May 9, 2007, from http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/lock.htm
• Dolhenty, Jonathan. (2006). A Philosopher of Freedom and Natural Rights. Retrieved May 9, 2007, from http://www.radicalacademy.com/lockebio.htm
• Locke, John. (1980). Second Treatise of Civil Government. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing. http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/l/locke/john/l81s/

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