Essay

Directions: This assignment is for a formal paper, meaning that you should present a complete argument using clean, controlled prose. The formal requirements are the following:

• Your essay directly answers the prompt (alternately, if you choose to write against the grain, you must explain why you are doing so)

• Your essay will use evidence to explain reasons that substantiate your claim (which should be a historical interpretation in answer to the prompt)

• Sources will be cited using a recognized citation system (MLA, APA are acceptable, Chicago is preferred). Information about proper citation can be found in the writer's guide from EN 101/2 or at the Purdue Online Writing Lab (search Purdue OWL).

• The paper should be 500-700 words in length with minimal grammar, spelling, syntax, or other language errors.

• Papers are due as uploaded Word files by the end of Friday 5/27.

Preamble: As European society transformed from Medieval to Early Modern, the importance of rationalism and empiricism increased. This was first seen in thinking about religion, where Martin Luther's 95 Theses was the most influential of the thousands of documents created by church-trained commenters on society. The Scientific Revolution itself had roots in religion as the early astronomers who started the ball rolling were often churchmen (e.g. Copernicus) and the interest in astronomy began in the late medieval period as scholars wanted to read God's signs in the heavens. As the wars of religion wracked Europe for generation after generation from the mid-1500s until the mid-1600s, rational thought seemed to have been abandoned in an excess of religiously motivated violence. Nevertheless, as Europe finally settled into a less destructive mode, and as countries started to coalesce around strong central authorities (whether monarchies or parliaments), the importance of rational and empirical thought also was present. One important document in this development was John Locke's Second Treatise of Civil Government (https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/locke/john/l81s/index.html -- for this assignment, please read the Preface, and chapters 2, 9, 11, and 13).

Prompt: In his descriptions of the state of nature, and in detailing the reasons for sacrificing one's individual freedoms to the state in return for guarantees of rights, how did John Locke use rationalism and empiricism to promote his concept of proper government? Why did Locke's vision provide a viable solution to the problems of his era?