key thinker: john locke

social contract theory: society, state n govt are based on a theoretical voluntary agreement

limited govt: the role of govt should be limited n based on content from below

quote: “government has no other end, but the preservation of property.”

main ideas:

• the state is not the creation of any spiritual creator, or the possession of a monarch who claims the ‘divine right of kings’ to govern, but has to be the creation of humankind. « principle of ‘government by consent’

• before the state existed, humankind lived in a state of nature

  • in the state of nature, humankind was subject to natural laws n could claim natural rights

• the laws should follow n confirm natural rights n natural laws

• the state was the result of a social contract between citizens n the govt

  • govt was subject to the consent of the people, in return for which the ppl agreed to obey its laws

• the state should be limited and its powers should be divided between different agencies, largely the govt and an elected parliament

• there should be tolerance of alternative religious n political views