John Locke's A Letter Concerning Toleration

Words: 995
Pages: 4
Open Document
The government plays such a vital role in our daily lives that we do not realize how chaotic the world would be without it; on the contrary we find it intrusive and nettlesome. Every successful country has realized the importance of a legitimate power for order and functionality. In fact, as the United States government formed, Locke’s political theory in “A Letter Concerning Toleration”, influenced the ideas found in the constitution. Locke’s Letter lays out the blueprint for the roles that the state and the individual take part in. The government was established for the protection of individual rights (including smoking) for the benefit of the desires of the individual, and the state has the duty to protect all individuals in a society, which …show more content…
The government is not to meddle with every detail of a man’s life, because that would take away even more of the power which each individual has over his life and which it is not entitled to. As Locke states, “Let any man pull down, or build, or make whatsoever Expences he pleases…no body controuls him; he has his Liberty.” The state is to allow every man to do as he chooses with what is under his possession and property, since it is a part of his individual rights. Specifically, in the case of smoking, which puts at risk bodily health, “every man may consider what suits his own conveniency and follow what course he likes best”. Anyone has the right to smoke and can do so without any interference because “Every one is to be accountable for his own Actions”. Nevertheless, once that pleasure impacts another the law can interfere, since “laws provide… the Goods and Health of Subjects be not injured by the Fraud or Violence of others”. When a woman is pregnant, her lifestyle impact the health of the fetus inside of her. In Locke’s point of view, a living being is protected by the law once quickening (or stirrings of the fetus), are notable. Thus, if a woman smokes during pregnancy, she “contributes to a number of adverse birth outcomes, including spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, fetal death, low birth weight, prematurity, and intrauterine growth retardation. Smoking is the most important known preventable risk factor for low birth weight, a leading cause of fetal and neonatal deaths.” Even though, the pregnant woman has a right to her own sources of pleasure, unless it negatively impacts another person (in this case the fetus), then the government can interfere because, according to Locke, “those things that are prejudicial to
Show More

Related Documents: John Locke's A Letter Concerning Toleration

John Locke's Letters Concerning Toleration

In Locke’s essay, “Letters Concerning Toleration” (1765) government and religion become a focal point in addressing the separation of both states. In three volumes titled “Letters Concerning Toleration” (1689-92), Locke emphasized how governments should respect freedom of religion except when the belief was a complication or threat to public order. Locke’s perspective did not philosophize that all beliefs were equally good or true, but simply that government is not in a position to decide the primary…

Words 79 - Pages 1

John Locke Essay

John Locke John Locke can be considered one of the most influential philosophers that came out of the seventeenth century. Locke was born to Puritan parents, with his father being a county lawyer and served as apart of the cavalry company in the early civil war. (Uzgalis,) His father being a lawyer allowed Locke to receive an education at the Westminster School. At the age of twenty Locke went on to attend the Christ Church in Oxford. Here he was able to receive a bachelor’s degree in logic, metaphysics…

Words 1728 - Pages 7

John Locke Pdf Essay example

John Locke John Locke was the most influential philosopher in advancing society; creating liberty and equality. One of his most significant accomplishments was his letters on toleration. The letters outlined two of his main arguments. The first is that the church cannot persecute anyone and natural rights stay the way they are. His second law was that the church cannot be sure that what they believe is the complete truth. This was a great way of separating the religious and government organizations…

Words 319 - Pages 2

How Did John Locke Influence Beliefs

John Locke: Belief Systems A belief system is a set of principles that form the base of a religion, philosophy or moral code. Over the course of human history, many historical figures, most who are philosophers, have emerged with their different ideas and expressing them in numerous ways. Eventually, these ideas pervaded and as a result, influenced belief systems. Many of these theories have shaped and affected how we see the modern world today. One historical figure who was said to be one of the…

Words 649 - Pages 3

John Locke Research Paper

John Locke was a 17th century English philosopher and physician known as the "Father of Classical Liberalism". Counted amongst the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers, he was the first to define the self through a continuity of consciousness. His writings contributed greatly to the development of the fields of political philosophy, epistemology, and education. His works inspired generations of philosophers to follow, and significantly influenced the likes of Voltaire and Rousseau. Born as…

Words 984 - Pages 4

Crime Prevention Essay

Social Contract Theory of John Locke AJS 532 15 February 2013 Fred Olguin Fred Dozier Social Contract Theory of John Locke Identifiable Values As…

Words 1750 - Pages 7

John Locke's Model Of Religious Conflict

dispute as well as future conflicts. The three models to be studied are those volunteered by John Locke, Jürgen…

Words 2102 - Pages 9

John Locke Vs Hobbes

philosophers provide inside into the mysteries of human existence and truth. Two well-known philosophers, John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, do exactly this by discussing elements of the social contract, a theory from the Age of Enlightenment that addresses the nature of man, the origin of society and political authority over man. In Locke’s Two Treaties of Government and A letter Concerning Toleration, he addresses the state of nature, liberty,…

Words 1803 - Pages 8

U.S. History I Essay examples

ratio evened out in the South; population doubled. 2. Enlightenment a. John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690). However, educated Europe & American with vocabulary and unified world view. b. Benjamin Franklin: Successful printing business retired in 1748; established basic theory of electricity still used today. c. Locke’s Two Treaties of Government British had a strong colony. John Colbert: financial planner of Lou 14th “Colbertism evolved into mercantilism…

Words 6303 - Pages 26

Essay on First Amendment to the United States Constitution and u . s . Supreme Court

Significant historical events, court cases, and ideas that have shaped our current system of constitutional First Amendment jurisprudence: 1215 Abuses by England’s King John cause a revolt by nobles, who compel him to recognize rights for both noblemen and ordinary Englishmen. This document, known as the Magna Carta, establishes the principle that no one, including the king or a lawmaker, is above the law, and establishes a framework for future documents such as the Declaration of Independence…

Words 7937 - Pages 32