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John Locke

John Locke. Spectrum of Ideologies. John Locke. Humans therefore invented government Purpose of government: Protect liberty (freedom) Protect private property Capitalism is ethical on rights grounds Based on liberty and private property Government regulation unethical

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John Locke

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  1. John Locke

  2. Spectrum of Ideologies

  3. John Locke Humans therefore invented government Purpose of government: Protect liberty (freedom) Protect private property Capitalism is ethical on rights grounds Based on liberty and private property Government regulation unethical Infringes on liberty and private property

  4. John Locke (1632–1704) Rights perspective Humans have “natural rights”: Liberty (freedom) Private property Why? Without government, humans would be in a “state of nature” Freedom: Free of all human-made laws Property: Resources combined with work Common fear: theft of freedom or property

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. 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)

  8. I. Historical Background • Locke lives out his days on government pension

  9. Locke’s Influence US Declaration of Independence (1776) “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government….”

  10. Locke’s Influence United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) “…the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world….” http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

  11. Critics of John Locke Are the liberty and property rights of the buyer and seller the only relevant rights? Example: cigarettes If there are rights at stake in addition to the liberty and property rights of the buyer and seller, then government regulation might be justified to protect all the relevant rights. Example: cigarettes

  12. Some Noteworthy Philosophers Adam Smith John Locke Herbert Spencer John Maynard Keynes Karl Marx

  13. Adam Smith (1723–1790) 1776: “The Wealth of Nations” Why do some societies do better than others? Not because of access to natural resources Not because of exporting more than importing (Mercantilism) Answer: Capitalism Utilitarian perspective

  14. Adam Smith Capitalism is ethical on utilitarian grounds Private property and unregulated free markets produce the greatest net social benefits of any socioeconomic system: laissez-faire Limited role of government: Protect private property Enforce contracts Therefore, government regulation of business is unethical on utilitarian grounds

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