BF190 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: A Letter Concerning Toleration, Bourgeoisie, Rationality
Document Summary
~ father of liberalism - philosopher and physician. ~ believes gov. is based on consent of the governed. Role of gov. is to protect private property. ~ celebrant of inequality (private property - allows humans to realize their promise) ~ allowed people of privilege to believe that they are doing good for society. Very well connected with wealthy british society. People who take and create are superior to those who don"t. Offered people what they wanted to hear. ~ condition/foundation of abundance . plenty for everyone. ~ wrote his book after the civil war - more peaceful time. ~ key point - born as a blank slate. ~ taking is okay because there is an abundance of everything. ~ ruler given power by people (sovereign is the state) ~ man has own equal right of liberty and sovereignty. ~ body of people have authority over each other (sovereign is the people)
