The Utility of Consent in John Locke's Political Philosophy

Abstract

This paper argues that the interpretation of Locke's doctrine of political consent is best built on ground between and above the extremes of voluntarism (deriving legitimacy from the form of actual consent) and utilitarianism (basing legitimacy on the proper end of hypothetical consent). Locke's characteristic combination of voluntarism and utilitarian considerations is illustrated by looking at his thoughts on religious toleration and property. Finally, some of the outstanding difficulties in Locke's account of consent are reviewed in the light of these reflections on the intention of his doctrine.