John Locke’s Contributions to Liberal Political Thought: Natural Rights, Limited Government, and the Legacy of Consent Introduction John Locke (1632–1704) stands as a foundational figure in the canon of Western political thought and is often celebrated as the "father of liberalism." His writings, especially the Two Treatises of Government (1689), provided a radical rethinking of … Continue reading Critically assess John Locke’s contributions to the development of liberal political thought, with particular reference to his theories of natural rights, limited government, and consent, and evaluate why he is often regarded as the ‘father of liberalism’.