Places the “ highest value on individual freedom ” and posits that “ the role of government should be limited ”
Stresses limited government & “ laissez-faire ” economy
Equality before the law, but no attempt to create actual equality of condition (this would come later)
John Locke was the first classical liberal
Extended Hobbes ’ s theory of the social contract
Locke argues that the King, who previously ruled by the divine right theory of monarchy, had no legitimacy to rule without the social contract
By today ’ s standards, Locke was a classical liberal and represents a more traditional approach
Radical at the time

Martin Luther (1483-1546) initiates the Protestant reformation against the Roman Catholic Church by tacking his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Church in
1517
Protested the sale of indulgences for the benefit of the Catholic Church
Protested general corruption in the Church and called for Reform, not Tolerance
Called on a certain degree of individual conscience and thought
Never intended to recommend freedom of religion

Jean Calvin (1509-1564) developed a theocratic government in Geneva based on the Reformed Church.
Also did not intend to promote freedom of religious practice
Did encourage that one consult one ’ s individual conscience – in an effort to understand and practice scripture according to Reform Protestantism

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) (A proto- liberal)
Before government, people lived in a “ state of nature ”
Although people are generally rational, they are also selfinterested, in Hobbes ’ s view
Conflicts are inevitable
For Hobbes, the state of nature is “ solitary, poor, brutish, nasty, and short ”
Social Contract Theory : To exit the State of Nature, people agree to a social contract with the sovereign
People give up some freedoms and allow the sovereign to have power over them in return for protection from the “ war of all against all ” in the state of nature
People invest authority in the sovereign to rule in order to prevent chaos, war, and divisiveness.

Although the purpose of Leviathan was to derive a new method of giving legitimacy to the Monarch , his premises were proto-liberal:
The monarch ’ s legitimacy comes from the people, not from the power of divine right
He used a state of nature argument to set up a new contract theory
King is justified only by the consent of the people
But the King is given absolute sovereignty
Limited government would have to await Locke ’ s
2 nd Treatise

People are rational with inherent natural right to life liberty and property (John Locke, The Second
Treatise of Government )
Also emphasized a right to revolution: the ruled may resist a monarch that deprives them of the rights to life, liberty, and property
One of the most important foundational thinkers for the U.S.
• Strongly influenced Tom Paine and others who justified the
American Revolution on distinctly Lockeian grounds
• Declaration of Independence is a Lockeian document (articulates the right to “ life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ”

First promoted the idea of the “ noble savage ”
Was a Social Contract Theorist, along with Hobbes and Locke
Polar opposite of Hobbes on Human Nature:
People are inherently cooperative and peaceable
Believed that humans would be happier in a state of nature, but that it is unrealistic
Social life and institutions “ corrupt ” people – cause them to be vain, acquisitive, and overly competitive
The environment overcomes our inherently cooperative and peaceful human nature
Tried to design a social contract that would bring out our naturally good nature

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (published 1651)
In the 8 th ed, Hobbes is Reading 3.10 – please read pages 57-59 only
In the 9 th ed, Hobbes is Reading 3.11 – please read pages 60-62 only
When can man have productivity rather than strife?
W hen there is “a power able to over-awe then all”
(p. 57 right column in 8 th ed./p. 60 right column in 9 th ed.
)
What does he think are the 3 main causes of conflict?
Competition, Diffidence, Glory (p. 57 bottom rt & p. 58 top left in 8 th ed.)
( p. 61 top left in 9 th ed.
)
How does Hobbes describe life in State of Nature?
“There is no place for industry… no arts, no letters, no society… & the life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish & short (p. 58 left bottom in 8 th ed./ p. 61 left bottom in 9 th ed.)
Note the requirement of a “ common strong power ” (Leviathan ruler) for Hobbes ’s political philosophy (p. 59 left in 8 th edition/ p.
62 left in 9 th edition )

Reading 3.11/ Reading 3.12
: John Locke ’ s 2 nd Treatise of
Gov’t (1690) (8 th ed: pp. 68-77 only/ 9 th ed: pp. 71-79 only
)
How does Locke characterize the state of nature: as a place of liberty or constraint?
Is Locke an atheist or agnostic?
Is there a Law of nature?
What are the limitations of the state of nature?
Did the state of nature exist, in Locke ’ s view? If so, how and where?
Topics on this slide are addressed in the section “Of the State of Nature ” (pp. 68-71 in the 8th/ pp. 71-74 in the 9 th )

’
nd
’
Why is property so crucial for Locke
s political theory? (pp. 71-72/ 74-75 )
What confers ownership on a person, for
Locke (p. 72/ 74 )
Is there a limit to how much property one may “engross,” or can one acquire as much as one wishes? (p. 72 bot rt/ 76 top lft )

Locke
s
nd
’
What are the 3 essential natural rights of people? (p. 76 bot left/ pp. 79 bot right )
What is the 4 th natural right (76 mid lft/ 79 bottom right onto p. 80 )
What justifies revolution in Locke ’s view?
Policy slip ups, mismanagement, high crimes
& misdemeanors, or something more? (p. 77 rt/ p. 80 rt )

Thomas Paine
s
(Reading 3.12 in 8 th / Reading 3.13 in 9 th )
Thomas Paine ’ s Common Sense invoked
Locke ’ s articulation of a right to revolution, in the situation where a people were deprived their natural rights. Paine ’ s argument:
Virtual Representation in the House of
Commons was a violation of natural rights
Was more radical than Locke: believed that monarchy could not safeguard liberty
Mocked and rejected the pretensions and ineffectuality of aristocracy