John Locke als Ethiker

It is common to regard John Locke as the founder and theorist of empiricism and liberalism. However, in his various works, he also developed a finely structured theory of ethics, which can be interpreted as the foundation and prerequisite for both his epistemology and his political theory. This ethical theory, which Locke bases on the freedom of the individual and the moral law as reason, is also fundamental and profoundly significant for our time. Its original formulations can be found in Locke's youth writings, written between 1660 and 1662, but published only in 1961. These texts, which have received little attention so far, are at the center of the study.