
A Letter Concerning Toleration
By: John Locke
Letter Concerning Toleration by John Locke was originally published in 1689. Its initial publication was in Latin, though it was immediately translated into other languages. In this "letter" addressed to an anonymous "Honored Sir" (actually Locke's close friend Philip von Limborch, who published it without Locke's knowledge) Locke argues for a new understanding of the relationship between religion and government. One of the founders of Empiricism, Locke develops a philosophy that is contrary to the one expressed by Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan, primarily because it supports toleration for various Christian denominations. Locke's work appeared amidst a fear that Catholicism might be taking over England, and responds to the problem of religion and government by proposing toleration as the answer. Unlike Hobbes, who saw uniformity of religion as the key to a well-functioning civil society, Locke argues that more religious groups actually prevent civil unrest. Locke argues that civil unrest results from confrontations caused by any magistrate's attempt to prevent different religions from being practiced, rather than tolerating their proliferation. Locke's primary goal is to "distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion." He makes use of extensive argument from analogy to accomplish his goal, and relies on several key points. The thing that he wants to persuade the reader of is that government is instituted to promote external interests, relating to life, liberty, and the general welfare, while the church exists to promote internal interests, i.e., salvation. The two serve separate functions, and so, must be considered to be separate institutions.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1689Author
John Locke
England
John Locke was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of Liberalism". Considered one of the fi...
More about John LockeDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
This book have Only 1 audiobook version
- Select Speed
Similar Books
The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America
The United States Declaration of Independence is the pronouncement adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, o...

The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America
The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 3, Chapter 11)
The History of England from the Accession of James the Second (1848) is the full title of the five-volume work by Lord Macaulay (1800–1859) more gener...

The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 3, Chapter 11)
The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 3, Chapter 16)
The History of England from the Accession of James the Second (1848) is the full title of the five-volume work by Lord Macaulay (1800–1859) more gener...

The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 3, Chapter 16)
The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 4, Chapter 17)
The History of England from the Accession of James the Second (1848) is the full title of the five-volume work by Lord Macaulay (1800–1859) more gener...

The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 4, Chapter 17)
The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 4, Chapter 18)
The History of England from the Accession of James the Second (1848) is the full title of the five-volume work by Lord Macaulay (1800–1859) more gener...

The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 4, Chapter 18)
The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 4, Chapter 19)
The History of England from the Accession of James the Second (1848) is the full title of the five-volume work by Lord Macaulay (1800–1859) more gener...

The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 4, Chapter 19)
The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 5, Chapter 23)
This is volume 5 chapter 23 of a series of books written by the Baron Macaulay (1800-1859) and published after his death. To quote from the preface -...

The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 5, Chapter 23)
Showing 1 to 10 of 45 results
Community Reviews for A Letter Concerning Toleration
No reviews posted or approved, yet...