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John Locke

Definition

John Locke was an influential English philosopher in the Enlightenment period. He is known for his theories of government power being derived from the consent of the governed and his ideas about natural rights.

Analogy

Think of Locke as a referee in a soccer game (society). He believed that everyone playing should agree to the rules (consent of the governed) and have equal opportunities to play (natural rights).

Related terms

Natural Rights: Basic rights that are considered inherent to human beings, regardless of laws or customs. These often include life, liberty, and property.

Social Contract: An implicit agreement among individuals in a society to cooperate for social benefits by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection.

Enlightenment: A European intellectual movement during 17th-18th century emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. It was heavily influenced by philosophers such as Locke, Descartes etc.