what did john locke believe

John Locke (1632-1704) was a British philosopher and political theorist who made significant contributions to modern theories of limited, liberal government. He believed that people have natural rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, that have a foundation independent of the laws of any government. Lockes political thought was grounded in the notion of a social contract between citizens and in the importance of toleration, especially in religious matters. He believed that a government should be beholden to the people rather than vice versa, and that the government must be a "neutral judge" of law with no right to interfere in the lives of the individual. Locke also believed that all human beings are born with a blank slate mind, and every facet of one's character is something observed, perceived, and learned via the senses.