Eric: John Locke

The Glorious Revolution played a vital role in creating John Locke’s views.  John Locke had the best views on the government and society of all the philosophers during the enlightenment.  Living through the most peaceful revolution helped Locke to believe humans were cooperative and reasonable.  Lastly, he believed in a government that worked with the consent of the people.  John Locke was the most accurate and influential philosopher known to man during the enlightenment.

                John Locke was born in 1632 and lived in England until his death in 1704.  The most significant event in Locke’s life was the Glorious Revolution.  Locke was 56 years old when the Glorious Revolution took place.  He was a philosopher, doctor, and scientist.  Even after his death, his beliefs were popular throughout France and North America.  Locke’s views on society were based on his experience of the Glorious Revolution.

                Locke stated that humans would act like the environment they were raised in.  Locke believed that it was difficult to act human if you did not have a family to raise you.  According to him, a baby was like a blank chalkboard waiting to be written on.  A family was meant to write the ways in which the child should act as they grew up.  Without that family, the child would be learning the ways of the corrupt people in the world thus he/she would become corrupt as well.  Humans were mainly impacted by the people around them.

                Locke believed that the government should work with the will of the people in order to prevent tyranny.  He agreed that the public had the right to rebel if the leader went tyrant.  He also believed that laws could not restrict a person’s freedom.  He felt that everyone had natural rights such as the right to life, liberty, and property.  According to Locke, laws were only able to limit the actions of a person to protect other people.  An organized society was based on the social contract which meant cooperation between the ruler and the ruled.  The Glorious Revolution led him to believe that people could cooperate and were reasonable in their way of life. This is why Locke felt that the government must work off the will of the people.

                Locke was a great philosopher who lived through the Glorious Revolution.  First of all, he thought that people were mainly influenced, from a young age, by the environment around them.  Secondly, he believed people should not be restricted by laws unless it was to protect others.  Finally, he thought that the government should work with the will of the people.  Locke had the most accurate views on society and the government.