How does Locke justify a
right to use force?
Understanding Locke.
The Content:

The context of writing

A list of his major works

Epistemology

Political beliefs

How does this relate to violence?

Conclusions

Further areas which may be developed

Questions?
The Context of his writing

Life span, 1632-1704

The Succession Crisis 1679-1681

The 1688-89 Glorious revolutions

The 1688 Revolution, replaced James II by the Dutch William III, a
revolution against Catholic tendencies with the English monarchy.

A response to Hobbes’ authoritarian contract theory?

But, could be considered as during the Restoration of Charles II crisis.
An attempt to tackle the ‘systemic problems’ within the Crown.
A list of his Major works

The Reasonableness of Christianity, as Delivered in the Scriptures (1695)


An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)


In which Locke’s concepts of God given commandments and natural law
are developed
Essay on epistemology. Tabula rasa.
Two treatises of Government (1690)

The demolition of Filmer’s Patriarcha (1680) and the proper bases of political
power

Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693)

Letter Concerning Toleration (1689)

Excluded atheists and Catholics (due to their obedience to a foreign power)
Locke’s epistemology


Knowledge:

Three types are possible: Authority, innate ideas or senses.

From senses, there are two: Simple or Complex.

This is empiricism – all knowledge is derived from sense, therefore there it is not
possible to have knowledge that precedes observation
Tabula Rasa or Blank slate – written on by experience.

There is no innate human nature

Ergo we are all authors of our own Destiney

All men are created equal.*

Hence if you change the environment you can change behaviour.
Therefore, Locke’s political beliefs:
 The
pursuit of Life, Liberty and Property.
 State of nature and state of war.

In Locke's state of nature, no person has control over another,
natural law governs and renders all people equal, and every
individual holds the executive power of natural law

.
State of War: "enmity and destruction" brought about by one
person's pre-meditated attempts upon another's life. The law of
self-preservation, integral to the law of nature, dictates that a
person may kill another person in self-defence.
 Separation
of powers.
 Minimal government.
 Property.
How do these relate to the right of
violence?

What constitutes as an unjust act of violence, or inadequate use of
it, is where an individual threatens life of another or impedes their
freedom.

Locke writes that force without adequate right of implementing it
causes the State of War.

When in a state of war, one has the right not only to selfpreservation but to attack.

Does this justify violence towards the monarchy? And what role
does the context play within this logic?

“Appeal to God”. The ‘liberal’ contract which Locke promotes
directly influences his attitude towards violence.
Conclusions
 Based
upon his political beliefs, derived
from his epistemological definitions, Locke
agrees with certain justifications of
violence.
 This is especially concerning the ‘right’ to
rebellion or self-defence.
 Furthermore the right to violence
continues within the State of War.
Further areas which may be
developed?
 Like
all things, definitions defines the logic of
an argument and thus the conclusions
reached. Therefore, an intricate comparison
of Hobbes and Locke’s definitions of the state
of nature and the state of war may be very
interesting.
 Does
this view extend to his ‘lack’ of religious
tolerance towards Catholics and Atheists?
Any Questions?