A Research On Locke's Liberalism Theory

John Locke, the English philosopher, is undoubtedly very important in the history of western liberalism theory, and he is always considered as one of the greatest founders of western liberal political thought. It is said that Locke's interpretation and demonstration in the value and system of freedom have enlightened the thinking of freedom in the western political philosophy, ethics philosophy and Jurisprudence areas nowadays .The aim of this article is to interpret that how Locke solves the problems of the value and the system of freedom, and I try to sum up the inner logic and the demonstration structure of Locke's liberalism theory, as well as its philosophy foundation. There are six parts in the article.In the first part, the question is to be proposed and the frame of the argument is to be established. There are two essential questions in Locke'liberalism theory. One question is why the man is free by born and how Locke demonstrates it which is the value aspect of freedom. Locke has solved the problem so well that the later liberalists can use the conclusion freely without a demonstration. The other question is now that the man is free by born, the society should try to preserve everyone's freedom, and which action the government should take to make it which is called the system of freedom. By looking for the answers to the question, the article is to discuss the philosophy foundation of Locke's liberalism theory, its influence to afterworld and what sense is for China in studying Locke's liberalism theory.In the second part, the article is to mouse out the efforts of Locke in demonstrating the value of freedom. Locke's theory is a liberal political theory and he tried to explain the political theory problems with the supposition that the man is free by born which means there is no natural authority in domes, and everyone is natural equal. The power can only be correctly run with a legal purpose. These aims are also deduced from the natural of state where everyone has an equal right to preserve himself and the political authority point at the preservation the members of the political community. Freedom and preservation are deduced from the law of nature, and they are criterion of distinguishing the legal and illegal use of power in political relationship. Locke demonstrated the supposition that the man is free by born through two aspects : one is to criticize Robert Filmer's patriarchy, and the other is to conclude that the man's freedom by born through the prescription of the natural of state where there is no natural authority in domes, and everyone is natural equal.In the third part, now that the value of freedom is demonstrated, whether a system can be designed to protect freedom? Locke didn't think that political society can exist without a government which can remedy the defects of the natural of state. Furthermore, the article doesn't focus on the material system designation, and only see about the theory problems behind the frame in order to find further theory problems. Firstly, it is from the state of nature to the political society. Secondly, the government is established in political society. In the social contract, everyone is the party, and they build up a society from agreement when there is no power abuse. But when some that master the power actually are voted to compose a government, the abuse comes fourth. Thirdly, let's look at religion toleration. It is someone that supposes free thought that can really support liberalism. Locke embodied the coherency. Locke stands firmly in free thought area as well as the political power which belongs to the individual. Religion toleration comes true in condition of freedom.In the fourth part, the hypothesis and philosophy founder of Locke's liberalism theory will be discussed. Locke supposed that human has reason which conducts the human life in the natural of state. The reason isn't perfect, so the political society is possible and necessary. Locke's government and society are founded on the possibility and limitation of reason, so it is a advisable to analyze the political foundation of Locke's liberalism theory from the reason. Furthermore, the limitation of reason determines the limit of rights and obligation in political society. Locke claimed that a limited government should be built up not a almightiness.In the fifth part, I think further in history scene. Locke's liberalism theory serves his political ideal. Leo Straus thinks that Locke's real aim is not to clarify the law of nature but for his own political ideal. In the Two treatises of government, his discuss starts from the natural of state not the Bible. In Locke's liberalism theory, he only authorizes the reason law.In the sixth part, it's the conclusion. Undoubtedly Locke not followed tradition but also innovated. He brought forward that the principal problem in politics was the origin of the society and the composition of political power after thinking the political problems in seventeenth century. He held a kind of optimistic opinion on humanity, and believed the social harmony and advancement. Especially he believed that everybody's good possessed the probability of harmonious coexistence and the reservation of social private sphere is compatible with the body politic or any authority. Furthermore Locke's theory on liberty is also significant and valuable in the contemporary Chinese society nowadays. According to Locke's theory on liberty, we can find the principles that they are inevitable to the realization of ruling of law, and they are consistent with the inherent value of ruling of law, especially the autonomy of human. So a research on Locke's theory on liberty has important practical significance.