Question

John Locke wrote that, according to social contract, every person is entitled to the natural rights of life, liberty, and estate. How does this differ from the text of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 1

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Enlightenment philosophers preached that people had the ability to reason and did not need the guidance of a monarch. A new concept began to develop when people of common backgrounds or belief systems united with the goal of creating a perfect government. What is the name for the group pride that was birthed from Enlightenment reasoning?

Answer 2

Whereas Locke spoke of life, liberty and estate, the Declaration of Independence speaks in terms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

In John Locke's way of framing his theory, "life, liberty, and estates" all constitute an individual's personal property. We normally think of "property" just in terms of one's "estate" -- that is land, house, belongings. From Locke's perspective, however, our property is everything that belongs to us as persons, which begins with our personhood itself. Having life and personal liberty -- those are the most important things we possess. Then comes "estate" or our land, house, belongings.

Thomas Jefferson's words in the Declaration of Independence have a similar theme, though worded differently. Pursuing happiness--a meaningful and fulfilling life--cannot happen unless life and liberty are respected and protected first.