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Essay / John Locke and the Egalitarian Principle - 792
Considered the “father of classical liberalism,” John Locke established the core values of classical liberalism, which included liberty, individualism, protection of natural rights, consent and constitutionalism. The classical liberalism that developed in the United States focused on a "minimal state" in terms of government restrictions, while John Locke centralized his attention on the social and political means of the individual. Generally, egalitarianism is defined as “a belief in human equality in terms of social, political, and economic affairs.” By this standard, John Locke cannot be called an egalitarian in all terms since he does not believe in the equality of people in all aspects. John Locke's form of classical liberalism can be best described as egalitarian because of his emphasis on the idea of a clean slate, equality of opportunity, and natural rights. John Locke believed that everyone is born with a blank slate, meaning that no one is born with innate abilities. qualities and knowledge are acquired through sensation and reflection. In An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Locke states that the mind is “…a white paper, empty of all characters, without any ideas” (Locke 674). People absorb external information and process it in their minds, which is reflected in their actions. Locke believed that the blank slate that men were born with would soon be developed through their inherent faculties (things done unconsciously like breathing and understanding) (Locke 678-679). Since egalitarianism primarily focuses on the basis of equality, Locke's tabula rasa proposal coincides with equality because it asserts that all people are born identical. No one is born with innate qualities that will give them a better chance of succeeding...... middle of paper ... liberalism, which is a doctrine for industrious individuals. Colonialism corresponds to its limitation of deterioration, which validates Lockean classical liberalism. Furthermore, by excluding women, Locke only acts as a subject of his time. As Althusser asserted, the ideology of the time “greeted” him to become a concrete subject. John Locke believes that people are equal in protection and birth, but he firmly believed that men must succeed in their own right. His classical liberalism supports egalitarianism, but not in all positions. Men are born the same and will always have the same natural rights that will be protected, but it will be up to them to control the results of their opportunities. Works Cited Cahn, Steven M. “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.” Classics of Western Philosophy. Np: Hackett, Incorporated, 2012. 672-739. Print.