John Locke and the Declaration - Galt's Gulch

Remove this ad.

9

John Locke and the Declaration

Posted by mshupe 5 years, 3 months ago to History

10 comments | Share | Flag

What was Rand's thinking about Locke's empiricism?

SOURCE URL: https://www.centerforindividualism.org/poetic-justice-warrior-spotlight-the-father-of-classical-liberalism-whose-ideas-are-inscribed-in-our-souls/

Add Comment

All Comments Hide marked as read Mark all as read

2

Posted by Olduglycarl 5 years, 3 months ago

Thank you, I'd forgotten that he exiled himself. Always a pleasure, a breath of fresh air, to read about Him and those times of enlightenment.

Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink
- 2
  
  Posted by JeromeHuyler 5 years, 3 months ago
  
  If you mean Locke, he went into exile twice. The first was to France, the second to Holland (one step away from the King's agents who were after him. Aside for his theoretical writings, Locke was up to his eyeballs in revolutionary intrigue. He was part of the Shaftesbury rebels bent on keeping the Catholic James II from succeeding Charles II to the British throne. There is no finer discussion of Locke's historical context and revolutionary activity than Richard Ashcraft's volume, i.
  
  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
- Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
- 2
  
  Posted by mshupe 5 years, 3 months ago
  
  Thanks for reading it, wait til next week!
  
  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
  - 3
    
    Posted by JeromeHuyler 5 years, 3 months ago
    
    If the premise is that the founders needed to read Locke's works to justify their revolution, it needs to be checked. Locke's political thought reverberated through the 18th century British Opposition press. Books, broadsides, periodic literature (newspapers and magazines. Two of the most influential authors who published 144 essays civil and religious between 1720-23, right after the bursting of the South Sea Bubble. The essays were collected and published as CATO'S LETTERS. It exposed the corruption of the British goov't and thoroughly covered the elements of Locke's political thought. \Colonial America devoured the Opposition Press of the period and corresponded with many of its members. Bernard Bailyn's The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution is the best source. But you can check out my own Locke In America: The Moral Philosoophy of the Founding Era.
    
    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
    - Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
    - 3
      
      Posted by mshupe 5 years, 3 months ago
      
      Thanks for the post. I didn't expand on when and how much the founders relied on Locke to justify the Revolution, only wanted to highlight Locke's original contributions to Enlightenment philosophy and the fact that he was central to the education of the Founders.
      
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
      - 3
        
        Posted by JeromeHuyler 5 years, 3 months ago
        
        Locke's contribution to the advance of reason, toleration, individualism, and the free market were indeed great and helped immeasurably to build the culture of the Enlightenment. His influence was so great that it extended to the key 18th century writers and ministers who could spread the word..
        
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
      - 1
        
        Posted by Dobrien 5 years, 3 months ago
        
        Look in your messages for a PM
        
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink

Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
2

Posted by mshupe 5 years, 3 months ago

When did Madison and Jefferson stumble upon Locke's Two Treatises?

Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink
- 1
  
  Posted by Olduglycarl 5 years, 3 months ago
  
  Before they set pen to paper?...Really don't know...do you? Would be interesting.
  
  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
  - Comment hidden by post owner or admin, or due to low comment or member score. View Comment
  - 2
    
    Posted by mshupe 5 years, 3 months ago
    
    Actually I don't, was trying to start a conversation with the question, but I suspect it was in the 1760s and some smart ass who opposed British taxation, and had some education, dug it up.
    
    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink

Comment hidden.