John Locke -- philosopher and slave trader, extraordinaire

While most treatments of his life tend to downplay the fact, the great empiricist, liberal philosopher John Locke actually played a very key role in the development of the English slave trade, and the institutionalization of slavery in the British Colonies in North America, many of which would subsequently become parts of the United States, and would ultimately have a great Civil War over slavery. While advocating liberalism and tolerance in government, Locke simultaneously was personally responsible for the establishment of the absolute power of Carolina planters over their slaves, by law. Yes, you read that right. No contradiction there, eh? So, how do we explain this little conundrum, then? What are the mental gymnastics going on in John Locke's head, that allow him to simultaneously do these two totally opposite things -- condemn slavery and oppression, and then write up a constitution that is enforced, that gives absolute tyrannical power of life and death to aristocrats in the British colonies over slaves? Well, is this really so complicated? John Locke was a greedy, murderous, hypocritical total creepshow, a real sociopath! Freedom for me, oppression for you, my friends! A lot of people are like this, of course, now, and in the past. #history #philosophy #historyofphilosophy #philosophyofhistory #ushistory #slavery #psychology #economics #psychoanalysis #britishempire #britishhistory #hypocrisy #johnlocke #sociopathology