John Locke Philosophy

The basic elements in John Locke's political theory are natural rights, social contract, and government by consent, and right of revolution. Locke was very concerned with the "property right" and derived property right from higher law. He also declared that natural law remained valuable in civil society as the fundamental measure of men's rights. For him, natural law effectively begins and ends with the natural right of property. The true end of civil government is …

…true faith in liberty, in individual rights, and in the dignity of human nature, united with his control and intelligence made Locke a perfect spokesman of a middle-class revolution. He was an important theoretical force in the encouragement of classic liberal ideals. Those Americans who are still believers in the right to life, liberty, and private property owe him a debt of gratitude for providing no small justification for the inalienability of these civil liberties.