John Locke
Sydnee Rogers 5th period
John Locke was an English philosopher and physician born in August of 1632 and died in October of 1704 in the United Kingdom. Locke, much like Thoreau, believed that all men are free and no man by nature is sovereign over another man. In his writings Locke went on to claim that men are free by nature, and also that men are free despite claims made by God that said they were less than a monarch. Originally Locke published his 'Two Treatises of Government' anonymously in 1689.
Two Treatises of Government
The fundamental argument in Locke's essay is that people are equal and invested with natural rights in a state of nature which they are free.
John Locke Quote
Locke and Thoreau both had the idea that everything was equal.
John Locke
In his 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding' Locke stated the belief that knowledge was not the discovery of anything, but rather "facts" derived from sensory experiences.
An Introduction to John Locke's Two Treatises of Government- A Macat Philosophy Analysis
Both Locke and Thoreau held the belief that knowledge comes from experience. Thoreau says this through his statement, "I felt as if I alone of all my townsmen had paid my tax" (Civil Disobedience). When Thoreau said this what he meant, in a deeper sense was that through his experience of life in the wild, he had a greater knowledge than his townsmen. In relation to Thoreau's statement Locke stated, "No mans knowledge here can go beyond his experience." Through his being an empiricist, Locke believed all knowledge came from experience. Thoreau and Locke also both had a dislike for slavery. Thoreau states in his Civil Disobedience article, "I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave's government" (Civil Disobedience). With his statement Thoreau has blatantly stated that he would not respect a government which allowed slavery. A famous quote by Locke is, "Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself." Locke is stating here that only a man can own himself, Locke believes that no person should be able to own another.