John Locke

Spectrum of IdeologiesSpectrum of Ideologies

Communitarian Individualistic

John LockeJohn Locke

Humans therefore invented governmentHumans therefore invented government Purpose of government:Purpose of government:

Protect liberty (freedom)Protect liberty (freedom) Protect private propertyProtect private property

Capitalism is ethical on rights groundsCapitalism is ethical on rights grounds Based on liberty and private propertyBased on liberty and private property

Government regulation unethicalGovernment regulation unethical Infringes on liberty and private propertyInfringes on liberty and private property

John Locke (1632John Locke (1632–1704)–1704)

Rights perspectiveRights perspective Humans have “natural rights”:Humans have “natural rights”:

Liberty (freedom)Liberty (freedom) Private propertyPrivate property

Why? Without government, humans would be Why? Without government, humans would be in a “state of nature”in a “state of nature” Freedom: Free of all human-made lawsFreedom: Free of all human-made laws Property: Resources combined with workProperty: Resources combined with work Common fear: theft of freedom or propertyCommon fear: theft of freedom or property

I. Historical Background

John Locke (1632 – 1704)

Enters Oxford in 1651 Studies philosophy,

natural history, medicine Becomes physician and

advisor to First Earl of Shaftesbury (big Whig politician)

Reign of Charles II, Charles dies in 1685

I. Historical Background

Line of succession issue (Catholic vs. Protestant)

Locke – through Shaftesbury – gets implicated in plot to assassinate James

Leaves England for Holland in 1683 Begins to write anonymous political pamphlets,

including the Two Treatises on Government (1689)

I. Historical Background 1688 “Glorious Revolution” in

England Replace the Catholic line from

James with William and Mary (both Protestant)

Locke was an advisor to William while the two of them were in Holland together

In exchange for throne, William & Mary agreed to a more limited, constitutional monarchy

Signed “Toleration Act” which allowed for religious toleration for most faiths (except Catholicism and Unitarianism)

I. Historical Background

Locke lives out his days on government pension

Locke’s InfluenceLocke’s Influence

US Declaration of Independence (1776)US Declaration of Independence (1776) ““We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are

created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of HappinessLiberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure —That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government….”Government….”

Locke’s InfluenceLocke’s Influence

United Nations’ Universal Declaration of United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Human Rights (1948) “…“…the equal and inalienable rights of all members the equal and inalienable rights of all members

of the human family is the foundation of freedom, of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world….”justice, and peace in the world….”

http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

Critics of John LockeCritics of John Locke

Are the liberty and property rights of the Are the liberty and property rights of the buyer and seller the only relevant rights?buyer and seller the only relevant rights? Example: cigarettesExample: cigarettes

If there are rights at stake in addition to the If there are rights at stake in addition to the liberty and property rights of the buyer and liberty and property rights of the buyer and seller, then government regulation might be seller, then government regulation might be justified to protect all the relevant rights.justified to protect all the relevant rights. Example: cigarettesExample: cigarettes

Some Noteworthy Some Noteworthy PhilosophersPhilosophers

Adam SmithAdam Smith John LockeJohn Locke Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer John Maynard KeynesJohn Maynard Keynes Karl MarxKarl Marx

Adam Smith (1723Adam Smith (1723–1790)–1790)

1776: “The Wealth of Nations”1776: “The Wealth of Nations” Why do some societies do better than others?Why do some societies do better than others?

Not because of access to natural resourcesNot because of access to natural resources Not because of exporting more than importing Not because of exporting more than importing

(Mercantilism)(Mercantilism) Answer: CapitalismAnswer: Capitalism

Utilitarian perspectiveUtilitarian perspective

Adam SmithAdam Smith

Capitalism is ethical on utilitarian groundsCapitalism is ethical on utilitarian grounds Private property and unregulated free markets Private property and unregulated free markets

produce the greatest net social benefits of any produce the greatest net social benefits of any socioeconomic system: socioeconomic system: laissez-fairelaissez-faire

Limited role of government:Limited role of government: Protect private propertyProtect private property Enforce contractsEnforce contracts Therefore, government regulation of business is Therefore, government regulation of business is

unethical on utilitarian groundsunethical on utilitarian grounds