LOCKE, John

English empirical philosopher and advocate of liberal democracy. Politically active in England but fleeing to France and Holland in the mid 1670s and 80s for safety. He rejected patriarchy and the Divine Right of Kings, arguing instead for God-given natural rights which might serve as a basis for challenging those in authority who were abusing it. This argument was used in both the French and American revolutions. He set out a strong case for toleration as also for the importance of the education of children – in families and publicly.

Life

• Entry on Locke in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

• Entry on Locke in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  

Writings

• Links to Locke's works in the Online Library of Liberty

• Works of Locke in Project Gutenberg

• Some Thoughts Concerning Education