The idea of natural rights has a long philosophical history, but it was most famously developed in the 17th century by English philosopher John Locke. Locke articulated natural rights as fundamental rights inherent to all individuals, specifically the rights to "life, liberty, and estate (property)." He argued these rights are inalienable and cannot be surrendered even in a social contract. Locke’s formulation became highly influential, especially in justifying the American colonies' rebellion and shaping modern political thought
. Before Locke, the concept can be traced back to the Stoics of late Antiquity and was influenced by medieval Catholic natural law philosophy, particularly St. Thomas Aquinas. The idea evolved through the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment. Other philosophers who contributed to the development of natural rights include Thomas Hobbes, who viewed natural rights as the liberty to preserve one's own life, and Francis Hutcheson, who introduced the distinction between alienable and unalienable rights
. Dutch philosopher Hugo Grotius in the post-Renaissance period also played a key role by framing natural rights in a way that did not depend strictly on religious grounds, moving the concept toward a more secular understanding
. In summary, while the concept has ancient and medieval roots, John Locke is credited with the modern, influential formulation of natural rights as life, liberty, and property, which deeply influenced later political documents like the U.S. Declaration of Independence
