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John Locke

John Locke was born on August 29th, 1632 (Locke IX). He grew up in the town of Beluton, England, near Bristol (IX). He was the oldest child of a highly regarded Somersetshire family in a family that placed God's laws before the king's (IX). Locke's father was a lawyer and a captain of the Parliamentary army; he lived by military standards (IX). His son's education was conducted at home and held to the same strict rules.(IX). Locke's father had a large influence on his son's placement into The Westminster School, where he spent four years on his college degree. After Locke's schooling at Westminster he received a scholarship to the Christ Church College, in Oxford (IX). Locke's time at these schools influenced his innovative ideas and helped him develop his philosophies on life.

During Locke's era there was an increase in the intellectual climate that was spreading over Europe (Peardon VIII). There was a great interest in science and economic gain throughout the country which caused religious matters to fall off (VIII). However, religious faith was very important in Locke's life and had a great impact on his thinking (VIII). John Locke carried out his life following and teaching God's word throughout his doctrine. Locke applied 2 Timothy 3:16-17 in his life, by using the Word for teaching and training in righteousness. Locke said that man was "the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise maker (IX)." Locke's teachings were greatly influenced by the large amount of religious education in his upbringing.   Locke is believed to be one of the most representative thinkers from the Anglo-American political tradition, democracy (Peardon VII). Locke was also called "the theorist of the English Revolution of 1776 (VII).
John Locke had an enormous influence on the Enlightenment Period.  His political doctrines were widely accepted (Bernard 44). The enlightenment was the intellectual movement of the time period. There were many innovative ideas about how to run the government (49). Locke's thoughts were also studied by many students in colleges throughout the Americas (49). His most influential beliefs stated that the government should protect the people of their country (Peardon XX). He believed that as citizen's life, liberty and property should be valued (xx). Locke also made three establishments throughout his writings that affected history (Encyclopedia of Philosophy 4). The first establishment was ethics; Locke believed that everyone should follow an order of specific principles in their life (4). The second was aesthetics, or artistic sensibility (4). The last thing that he established was knowledge through experience (5). This was the most important and vital of the three establishments to Locke (5). 

John Locke had no way of knowing how his doctrine called Empiricism would influence Anglo-American Political Tradition. His doctrine states that knowledge comes from the senses and we learn by experiencing different things (Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia).  Locke has written many influential books on government and the political mind. His main essay "Concerning Human Understanding" speaks mainly on innate ideas and builds on the mind and knowledge (Locke 313). Locke emphasizes that "knowledge as has been said, lying in the perception of the agreement or disagreement of any of our ideas, it follows from hence that, it extends no further than we have ideas. First we have knowledge no further we have ideas (313)."Basically stated it is the concept that the human mind is like a blank slate (Locke 4). He believed that when a person is born their mind has nothing on it but throughout life knowledge is imprinted (4). Locke also wrote extensively about simple ideas versus complex ideas (Locke 313). 

The English Revolution of 1776 was influenced by Locke's very precise political theories. In his first treatise he stressed the false principles and foundation of Sir Robert Filmer. As a result of this work Filmer and his men were overthrown (Peardon XXVII). His second essay talked about the purity, extent, and limits of civil government (XXVII). Locke also addressed the issue of the divine rights of kings (75). This was the widely held belief that kings had certain rights because they were appointed by God (75). Locke believed that this policy put unnecessary restrictions on the people (82). He then argued the point that "sovereignty is not vested by divine right in the royal state but rests with the people (87)." His ideas put more power in the hands of the people. As mentioned before, Locke also came up with three main points that the government should protect: civil, natural and property rights (83). These three rights were later placed in the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence (Britannica Great Books 27). Locke also believed in natural law, the idea that justice exists independently of the laws of a given political order (29).

John Locke has had a large impact on many rulers and dictators over the last four centuries (Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2).  His feelings concerning liberty and the social contract have influenced the written works of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and others who founded the United States (3). Locke also took liberalism to the next level by maximizing citizen's liberty through their rights (3). He truly was seeking a society that was striving for freedom of action for individuals through liberation from unchecked monarchy.

Locke's ideas and doctrines carried on well after his death (Cambridge 7). This was not because he was original in his political ideas, but rather that he gave clear and reasonable expression to thoughts that were the product of centuries of political experience (VII). He was a persistent man who was determined to instill a new philosophy and change the way governments were run (Britannica Great Books 11). John Locke was a man who had great political knowledge and a philosophy for life firmly grounded in God's word.

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