John Locke's Political Philosophy Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining core concepts from John Locke's political thought, including natural rights, tabula rasa, state of nature, and the social contract.

John Locke

An English philosopher and political scientist born in 1632 whose writings influenced future leaders such as Thomas Jefferson.

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

A book written by John Locke over a period of 18 years that discusses human nature and how people learn.

Tabula Rasa

A mind that is like a blank slate or page at birth, which gets filled up with life experiences through the five senses.

Natural Rights

A set of rights that Locke believed human beings are born with, including the right to life, liberty, and property.

Life (Natural Right)

The principle that people want to live and will fight to survive.

Liberty (Natural Right)

The principle that people want to be as free as possible to make their own decisions.

Property (Natural Right)

The principle that people want to own things that help them survive, such as land, food, and tools.

State of Nature

A situation where people live without a government, resulting in no rules, no one in charge, and no way to protect natural rights.

Contract

An agreement between people in which both sides agree to something in order to reach a shared goal.

Social Contract

An agreement between a government and its people where citizens agree to give up some freedoms if the government agrees to protect everyone's rights.