Final answer:
John Locke's concept of natural rights includes life, liberty, and property, all of which are fundamental and unalienable. According to Locke, governments exist to protect these rights via a social contract, and if they fail, citizens have the right to revolt. These ideas form the basis for modern democratic principles and the importance of the consent of the governed.
Step-by-step explanation:
English philosopher John Locke was a seminal figure in the development of the concept of natural rights. These rights, which include life, liberty, and property, are deemed fundamental and unalienable. In his work Two Treatises of Government, Locke posited that individuals are born with these rights and that they exist in a state of nature that precedes government.
He maintained that the primary role of the government is to protect these natural rights through a social contract. If a government fails to do so, the people have a right to revolt and establish a new government that will ensure the protection of their rights.
Locke's perspective on the state of nature was inherently optimistic, viewing humans as generally peaceful, rational, and capable of self-governance. This stands in contrast to the more negative view of human nature suggested by Thomas Hobbes. Locke's philosophical ideas greatly influenced the democratic principles that later shaped political systems, particularly emphasizing the importance of the consent of the governed.
Moreover, Locke's assertion that property is derived from labor and tied to natural rights highlighted the relationship between ownership and personal liberty. The implications of his natural rights philosophy are vast, providing a framework for understanding civil liberties and the justification for government authority.