John Locke's Political Theory - Equality, Freedom, Property, and Dissent

Explore John Locke's liberal political philosophy in this 45-minute lecture from Yale University's "Foundations of Modern Social Thought" course. Delve into Locke's views on equality, freedom, property, and the right to dissent, contrasting them with Thomas Hobbes' conservative approach. Examine Locke's concept of individuals in the state of nature as free, equal, and reasonable, and his argument for states protecting individual property and governing with consent. Learn about Locke's vision of separated powers in government and how his political thought assumes resource abundance. The lecture covers historical context, major themes from Locke's First and Second Treatises, the origins and limits of private property, and the differences between absolute monarchy and civil society.