John Locke's The Second Treatises Of Government

In John Locke’s The Second Treatises of Government the ideas that he put forward are revolutionary and are why he is commonly referred to as the “Father of Classical Liberalism”. The title, “Father of Classical Liberalism,” is a political ideology that encompasses the principles of liberty, individualism and equality. Throughout his book it becomes evident as to why John Locke is generally regarded as this title.

A main idea behind John Locke being regarded as the “Father of Classical Liberalism” is the idea of liberty. In his work on The Second Treatises of Government he opposed the notion of having an absolute monarchy. Unlike others, John believed in a society where individuals were wise enough to make their own decisions as long as it did not bring harm to anyone. “The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not be under the will or legislative authority of men but to be ruled only by the law of nature” (Locke, 22). This quote represents how he rejected the idea of having superior powers such as the divine right of kings and wanted a society where people are free and can choose to live

freely as long as it does not harm others.
Individualism is a key theme portrayed through Locke's writing.

He believed that every individual is equal before the law. In his book, he mentions that every individual has a legal right in owning property and the possessions that they desire as long as the possessions of others are not harmed. “So he has by nature a power not only to preserve his property, that is, his life, liberty and possessions, against harm from other men” (Locke, 87). This passage showcases how what once was a collective possession becomes more of an individualistic one, such as property and liberty. He also states that the nature of property and his possessions without a man’s own consent cannot be taken from him or harmed by other individuals: "Every individual man has a property in his own person; this is something that nobody else has any right to" (Locke,

27).
Additionally, Locke greatly highlights the concept of equality throughout his writing. He explains the concept of the state of nature being a state of perfect freedom and a state of equality in which no individual has power over another. “The equality that is relevant to the business in hand, namely the equal right that every man has to his natural freedom, without being subjected to the will or authority of any other man” (Locke, 54). This illustrates that Locke believed in the idea of having a limited constitutional government that would have individual rights protected and equal. Thus, no man would be subjected to the will power of any other individual.
Ultimately, it becomes abundantly clear why John Locke is regarded as the “Father of Classical Liberalism” because throughout his revolutionary book The Second Treatises of Government, he encompasses the principles of liberty, individualism and equality which are vital aspects in the shaping of the political ideology of liberalism.