H I S T O R Y

O F

P O L I T I C A L T H O U G H T

–

L O C K E

J.G.A. Pocock (1924-...)2

‘Each speaks with many voices’

Involking language

=

entering into a collaborative fiction with

unknown authors

Concept of play in language

=

language structures assign universes,

such structures might be deemed repressive,use of ambiguities of language with aim of

LIBERATION

John Locke (1632-1704)3

State of Nature Body politic

State of War

Locke 4

State of Nature

Locke 5

Not an asocial condition,

but an ahistorical condition.

The state wherein men are set

by God.

Robert Filmer – Patriarcha (1680)6

Genesis 1.28

And God blessed them.

And God said to them, “Be

fruitful and multiply and fill

the earth and subdue it

and have dominion over

the fish of the sea and over

the birds of the heavens

and over every living thing

that moves on the earth.”

State of Nature

Locke 7

Not an asocial condition,

but an ahistorical condition.

The state wherein men are set by

God.

Governed by Law of Nature:

-do not do unto others as you

would not have them do unto you-

State of Nature Body politic

State of War

Locke 8

State of Nature

State of War

Locke 9

Want of a common judge with authority

Force without right

Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681)10

Robert Filmer – Patriarcha (1680)11

GOD

Adam

Kings

multitude of people

Locke – property 12

Body politic

Locke 13

Political power:

-making laws

-upholding laws

-regulating property

-defence from foreign states

Body politic

Locke 14

Political power:

-making laws

-upholding laws

-regulating property

-defence from foreign states

‘consent which makes any one a

member of any commonwealth.’

Ruled

Locke 15

symmetrical legitimacy

Rulers

reciprocal rights & obligations

Tacit consent?

Explicit consent?

Body politic

Locke 18

Body politic can degenerate

into State of War

through perversion of justice

State of War

State of War 19

The Glorious Revolution (1688-1689) 20

Locke – Freedom? 21