Preview

John Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
84 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
John Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration
In his lifetime Locke published three works: A Letter Concerning Toleration, Two Treatises of Government and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, the latter being the most influential. A Letter Concerning Toleration was originally published by Locke’s friend without his knowledge. In it, he expresses his views on religion and how the only way to a peaceful society is through freedom of religion. He reasons that unrest comes from a ruler forcing one religion on all people rather than letting people choose what they believe.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    In this essay, I would like to discuss Locke’s Second Treatise of Government section 131. This essay is divided into four parts. In the first part, I would like to interpret what Locke’s position is developed in section 131 and in the next part, I would like to discuss how Locke supports this position by tracing back to the origin of government. Then in the third part, I would like to point out some flaws in this position by arguing evidences provided by Locke to support his position. The last part of my essay is the conclusion.…

    • 1803 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Locke holds that one becomes obligated to obey political authorities only by one’s free and voluntary consent. Or does he? Locke: “The difficulty is, what ought to be looked upon as tacit consent, and how far it binds, i.e. how far any one shall be looked on to have consented, and thereby submitted to any government, where he has made no expressions of it at all.” Locke, later: “And to this I say that every man, that hath any possession, or enjoyment, of any part of the dominions of any government, doth thereby give his tacit consent, and is as far forth obliged to obedience to the laws of that government” (section 119).…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke, an English philosopher was a major part of the growth of the rebublican view during the Enlightenment era.1 Locke was a brilliant teacher at Oxford University and wrote many books about education.3 Locke’s excellent teachings and books allowed his opinions to be valued by many people.3 Locke made an impact on political ideals by publishing the “The Reasonableness…

    • 671 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Chapter 18

    • 1729 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Locke agrees with Hobbes that the purpose of government is to create order in society but contends that people are reasonable and would cooperate with each other and could rebel if ruler were tyrant. Ruler stays in power only as long as he has consent of those governed. He said people had natural rights, including right to life,…

    • 1729 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke, the political philosopher and naturalist wrote the two treatises of government in defense against armed resistance to the English King. Locke is interested in the political…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Locke was born on August 29th, 1632 in England and lived to became one of the most influential people in England and, perhaps, one of the most influential people of the 17th century. Before his death on October 28th, 1704 he would earn the title as the Father of liberal philosophy. His ideas would also be used as a keystone for the revolution of the North American colonies from England. Locke fled to Holland in 1683. He returned to England in about 1688 when William and Mary were to retake the reign of England in what historians call the "Bloodless Revolution". Locke returned to Oates in Essex where he retired. He lived there until his death in 1704.…

    • 322 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the eighteenth century philosophers John Locke and Francious-Marie Arouet.supported the idea of religious toleration. Locke philosophy was that people were born good or pure. According to Locke, people were generally good that they should be allowed more rights and freedoms. In which also his philosophy was that people were entitled to three natural rights (life, liberty, and own property which he defended. Locket said in the letter concerning toleration.…

    • 252 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The "Two Treatises of Government" offered political theories developed and refined by Locke during his years at Shaftesbury's side. Rejecting the divine right of kings, Locke said that societies form governments by mutual agreement. Locke also developed a definition of property as the product of a person's labor that would be foundational for both Adam Smith's capitalism and Karl Marx's socialism. In his "Thoughts Concerning Education", Locke argued for a broadened syllabus and better treatment of students-ideas that were an enormous influence on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's novel "Emile". In three "Letters Concerning Toleration", Locke suggested that governments should respect freedom of religion except when the dissenting belief was a threat to public order. Even within its limitations, Locke's toleration did not argue that all beliefs were equally good or true, but simply that governments were not in a position to decide which one was correct. Locke spent his final 14 years in Essex at the home of Sir Francis Masham and his wife, the philosopher Lady Damaris Cudworth…

    • 446 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke was an English philosopher in the seventeen century. He was considered as one of the most highly influential and important enlightenment thinkers of all history. He wrote about political philosophy, epistemology, and education. Locke's writings helped found modern Western philosophy and made an enormous impact. In 1690, he wrote “The Second Treatise,” which compromised an idea of society based on natural rights and contract theory. In this portion of work, he came up with revolutionary ideas that influenced numerous societies, including Americans. Locke’s arrogance completely shaped and helped our community through his thoughts of society and individual requirements so that America was an effective, successful country.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher who wrote many works, including Two Treatises of Government (1690). He supported democracy and believed that everyone was born with certain individual rights. He argued that these natural rights (life, liberty, and property) were not given by government or given by God and cannot be taken away by government. He also believed that there was a social contract between a government and its people. People agree to obey government as long as it defends their natural rights and people have the right to overthrow an unjust government.…

    • 1437 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Locke’s views of on the church and state followed those of Martin Luther. Locke also insisted on liberty of conscience and creator/redeemer distinction. Locke also had a great influence on the United States, considering that Charles II enlisted him along with Lord Shaftsbury to draft a constitution for the new colony, Carolina.…

    • 3763 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Locke's reasoning for religious tolerance is all over the place. He first explains that no man has any right to enforce his beliefs on another man, stating that faith comes from within one's self, and it is not considered faith if it be thrust upon another. He also states that the civil government shall be separate from the church. The government has no authority in the confines of the church, and the church cannot enforce its teachings in the…

    • 719 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hockey

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages

    John Locke brought in many of the beliefs that we construe in our constitution. Such ideas include religious freedom, checks and balances and equality. Freedom of religion was not a common thing in the sixteen hundreds. These sorts of ideas were frowned upon by higher powers, so it was hard for Locke to express himself. Locke’s idea of freedom of religion stemmed the idea for the separation of church and state. He is famous for calling for the separation of Church and State in his “Letter Concerning Toleration”. The separation of church and state means that religious views will not affect decisions or actions made by the state, or government. This is important to the United States because of extent of diversity in the country. There are many different religions and there would be many conflicts if religion played into the decision making process of the country.…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke (1632-1704) is a Philosopher and Physician. He was known as one of the most affective Founding Father of Enlighten movement. Because of his past occupation, who used to persuade to become a doctor, he understood how people's lives, and what was the best form of government that they need. Locke's theories in the Second Treaty of Government and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, and his State of Nature, for examples, have influenced people and government system with his belief of man's political nature that people have certain right in society and they willingly give up their highly valued autonomy in order to live peacefully and comfortable under one united government that enforces rules and regulation that protect its people…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Locke Paper

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages

    application of experimental analysis to ethics, politics, and religion, he remains one of the most important and controversial philosophers of all time. His ideas and writings lived way beyond his time, and have proven to be the reason the colonies broke away from their mother country and learned to expect certain rights from their government.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays