Locke, Natural Law, and New World Slavery

@article{Farr2008LockeNL,
  title={Locke, Natural Law, and New World Slavery},
  author={J. Farr},
  journal={Political Theory},
  year={2008},
  volume={36},
  pages={495 - 522}
}
  • J. Farr
  • Published 2008
  • Philosophy
  • Political Theory
This essay systematically reformulates an earlier argument about Locke and new world slavery, adding attention to Indians, natural law, and Locke's reception. Locke followed Grotian natural law in constructing a just-war theory of slavery. Unlike Grotius, though, he severely restricted the theory, making it inapplicable to America. It only fit resistance to “absolute power” in Stuart England. Locke was nonetheless an agent of British colonialism who issued instructions governing slavery. Yet… Expand
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