Pizhuhish nāmah-i intiqādī-i mutūn va barnāmah hā-yi ̒ulūm-i insāni (Critical Studies in Texts & Programs of Human Sciences)

A Critical Analysis of the Book God, Locke, and Equality: Foundations of John Locke’s Political Thought"

Document Type : Research

Authors

Fardin Moradkhani 1
Hamid Yahyavi 2

1 Associate Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran,

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30465/crtls.2025.50325.2887
Abstract
Jeremy Waldron’s God, Locke, and Equality offers a fresh reading of John Locke’s political philosophy, emphasizing its theological foundations. Waldron argues that equality in Locke’s thought is not merely a legal or political concept but a theological principle, comprehensible only through the lens of humanity’s relationship with God. This paper situates Waldron’s work within ongoing interpretive debates on Locke, showing that his analysis occupies a central position in the long-standing contest between secular and theological readings of Locke. Waldron’s primary concern in revisiting Locke’s political thought is to establish a foundation for the idea of “fundamental equality,” a foundation that, in his view, contemporary secular approaches in political philosophy fail to justify. According to Waldron, Locke could articulate this principle only based on Christian belief and reference to God. The findings of this study indicate that, despite Waldron’s efforts, many enduring puzzles in Locke scholarship remain unresolved. Nonetheless, Waldron’s interpretive insight in highlighting the theological roots of Locke’s thought, and his creative use of this insight to illuminate the problem of fundamental equality, significantly enhances our understanding of the issue. Waldron’s analysis, despite the criticisms that reduce Locke’s liberalism to Protestant theology, underscores a critical point: any comprehensive understanding of Locke’s thought requires simultaneous attention to both its religious and political foundations.

Keywords

Locke
Equality
Waldron
Political Theology
Christianity
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 01 February 2025
  • Revise Date 17 April 2025
  • Accept Date 21 April 2025

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