John Locke

John Locke (1632–1704) was the English philosopher whose political theories provided the intellectual foundation for modern liberal democracy. His Two Treatises of Government (1689) — arguing that individuals possess natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed — became the most influential political philosophy of the modern era.

Locke's theory was forged in the political crises of 17th-century England. Writing in the context of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, he argued against the divine right of kings and in favor of limited government, the rule of law, and the right of revolution against tyrannical rulers. His Second Treatise systematically dismantled the arguments for absolute monarchy and constructed an alternative theory of government based on natural rights and social contract.

Locke's influence on the revolutionary movements of the 18th century was direct and profound. Thomas Jefferson drew explicitly on Locke when drafting the Declaration of Independence — changing Locke's 'life, liberty, and property' to 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' The American Constitution's system of limited government, individual rights, and popular sovereignty is fundamentally Lockean. His Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1689) — arguing that the mind at birth is a blank slate shaped by experience — was equally influential in philosophy, psychology, and education.