John Locke

189 Pages·1978·6.154 MB·English

by  Geraint Parry

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POLITICAL THINKERS
edited by Professor Geraint Parry
University of Manchester
8
JOHN LOCKE
POLITICAL THINKERS
1 HEGEL
by Raymond Plant
2 EDMUND BURKE
His Political Philosophy
by Frank O'Gorman
3 KARL MARX
by Michael Evans
4 JOHN STUART MILL
by R. J. Halliday
5 BENTHAM
by ]ames Steintrager
6 HOBBES
Morals and Politics
by D. D. Raphael
7 ARISTOTLE
by John B. Morrall
JOHN
Geraint Parry
Professor of Government
University of Manchester
London
GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN
Boston Sydney
First published in 1978
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© George Allen & Unwin (Publishers) Ltd, 1978
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Parry, Geraint
John Locke. - (Political thinkers; 8).
1. Locke, John - Political science
I. Title II. Series
320’.01 JC153.L87
ISBN 0-04-320130-X
ISBN 0-04-320131-8 Pbk.
Typeset in 10 on 11 point Plantin by Trade Linotype Ltd
and printed in Great Britain
by Billing & Sons Limited, Guildford, London and Worcester
For Linda,
Susannah and Daniel
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PREFACE
John Locke was a philosopher, a theologian, a doctor, an economist. He
wrote at a time when it was still possible for a well-educated man to
contribute to advanced thinking in a range of intellectual activities. In
this study, I hope to enable the student of Locke’s political thought to
perceive the relationship in which it stands to his other inquiries. The
greatest of political thinkers seek to explain the place of politics within
the range of human activities, and Locke is no exception.
A welcome stage in the writing of any book occurs when the author
can acknowledge his many debts. The kernel of the argument of this
volume, now somewhat modified, appeared in an article in Politico!
Studies in 1964, and I am grateful to the editor and to Oxford
University Press, the publishers, for permission to use some of the
material. The Librarians of the University of Glasgow, and in particu­
lar of its remarkable Special Collections, were invariably helpful. I
should like to thank also the Keeper of the Western Manuscripts at the
Bodleian Library for assistance in consulting the MSS in his care.
Scholarly debts are many. To Professor Michael Oakeshott I owe my
introduction to political thought and this is an occasion to express my
gratitude, whether or not the subject, or its treatment, meet with his
approval. I owe much to discussions with my colleagues of the Depart­
ments of Government and Philosophy at the University of Manchester.
Professor Allen Potter, of the University of Glasgow, and Professor
Jack Lively, of the University of Warwick, both read the manuscript
and, as ever, both provided me with shrewd criticisms and stimulating
suggestions. Naturally, responsibility for what survives remains inescap­
ably mine. The typescript was produced by Mrs Nancy Walsh and Miss
Celia Wallace at Glasgow and by Mrs Lynn Dignan at Manchester.
My thanks are due to them. Mr Charles Furth and Mr Michael
Holdsworth at George Allen & Unwin were discreetly patient whilst I
pursued other research. For what my wife, Linda, contributed no thanks
can be enough.
Manchester, 1977
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