A PHILOSOPHICAL EVALUATION OF LOCKE'S CONCEPT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Abstract
This study offers a philosophical evaluation of John Locke’s concept of civil disobedience within the broader framework of his political theory. Locke argues that legitimate political authority is grounded in the consent of the governed and exists primarily to protect natural rights—life, liberty, and property. When government violates these rights or fails to uphold its contractual obligations, Locke maintains that citizens not only have the right but, in some cases, the duty to resist. This work examines Locke’s justification for resistance, its moral foundations, and its relevance to contemporary understandings of civil disobedience. It analyzes the conditions under which civil disobedience is considered legitimate in Locke’s theory, the limits he places on political resistance, and the potential risks of instability inherent in his ideas. The study concludes that Locke provides a powerful moral basis for civil disobedience rooted in natural law and individual rights, while also emphasizing the need for responsible and purposeful resistance aimed at restoring just governan
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