Multiple Choice Questions on John Locke

John Locke

1. Who is known as ‘father of liberalism’:

(a) Hobbes

(b) Locke

(c) J.S Mill

(d) Bentham

Ans: (b)Locke

2. Which among the following is not a book written by John Locke:

(a) Two Treaties of Civil Government

(b) An Essay concerning Human Understanding

(c) Thoughts on Education

(d) None of these

Ans: (d) None of these

3. ‘An essay concerning Human Understanding'(1690) is written by:

(a) Hobbes

(b) Locke

(c) J.S Mill

(d) Bentham

Ans: (b) Locke

4. Locke lay down that state is:

(a) An end in itself

(b) Means to an end

(c) Unavoidable evil

(d) Legal necessity

Ans: (c) Unavoidable evil

5. According to John Locke, the best form of government is:

(a) Monarchy

(b) Aristocracy

(c) Democracy

(d) None of these

Ans: (c) Democracy

6. Who postulated, ‘State was created for the protection of natural rights of man’:

(a) Hobbes

(b) Locke

(c) J.S Mill

(d) Bentham

Ans:(b) Locke

7. In describing the ‘state of nature’ the concept of ‘the veil of ignorance was introduced by:

(a) Hobbes

(b) Locke

(c) Rousseau

(d) Rawls

Ans. (d) Rawls

8. Who said,’ where there is no law, there is no freedom’:

(a) Hobbes
(b) Locke
(c) Rousseau
(d) Rawls

Ans.  (b)Locke

9. ‘All men are by nature free, equal and independent’:

(a) Plato

(b) Aristotle

(c) Locke

(d) None of the above

Ans:(c) Locke

10. Who makes the right to property as a natural right:
(a) Hobbes
(b) Locke
(c) Rousseau
(d) Rawls

Ans. (b) Locke

11. According to Locke which are the 3 natural rights:

 (a)Right to life, liberty and property

 (b)Right to life, work and religion

 (c) Right to life, property and religion 

 (d) Right to life, religion and family 

Ans. (a)Right to life, liberty and property

12. Who termed Locke’s concept of right to property as a natural right as a typical expression of the idea of ‘possessive individualism’:

(a) Locke

(b) C.B. Macpherson

(c) Sabine

(d) None of these

Ans. (b) C.B. Macpherson

13. Who among the following laid the foundation of constitutionalism:
(a) Hobbes
(b) Locke
(c) Rousseau
(d) Rawls

Ans. (b) Locke

14. Who observes, ‘ Locke was indeed at the fountain-head of English Liberalism’:

(a) M. Seliger

(b) C.B. Macpherson

(c) Sabine

(d) None of these

Ans. (b) C.B. Macpherson

15. The book ‘ The Liberal Politics of John Locke'(1968) was written by:

(a) M. Seliger

(b) C.B. Macpherson

(c) Sabine

(d) None of these

Ans. (a) M. Seliger

Important Books Written by John Locke:

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding A Letter Concerning Toleration Two Treatises of Government

Important Facts about John Locke:

John Locke born in 29 August 1632 in Warrington, England and died in 28 October 1704.

John Locke was an English philosopher and physician and known as the ‘Father of Liberalism’ and one of the most influential thinker of Enlightenment.

Locke was influenced by Voltaire and Jean Jacques Rousseau.

Political Contributions of John Locke:

Father of Liberalism: John Locke is known as the father of classical liberalism because of his support to individual rights, limited and constitutional government and the rule of law that influenced the concept liberal political thought.

Natural Rights: John Locke gave the theory of natural rights, which focused on individuals inherently possess rights to life, liberty, and property. These rights are not given by the state or government but are inherent to human beings.

Social Contract: John Locke is one of the proponent of social contract theory along with Hobbes and Rousseau. Social Contract theory according to John Locke is to believe in the fact that governments are formed by the consent of the governed to protect their natural rights. If a government fails to do so, citizens have the right to overthrow it.

State of Nature: Locke described the state of nature as pre-political state where individuals are free and equal, governed by natural law. Unlike Hobbes, Locke believed that people in the state of nature could cooperate and coexist peacefully.

Limited and Constitutional Government Based on Separation of Powers: Locke advocated for the separation of powers within government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This idea influenced the development of modern democratic systems.

Religious Tolerance: Locke was a strong proponent of religious tolerance. In his “Letters Concerning Toleration,” he argued that the government should not interfere within the private affair of individuals’ religious practices as long as they do not harm others.

Impact on American Founding Fathers: Locke’s political philosophy significantly influenced the American Founding Fathers, particularly Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence echoes Locke’s ideas about natural rights and the right to rebel against unjust governments.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke

Thomas Hobbes