What was the primary purpose of government according to John Locke?

John Locke, a pivotal Enlightenment thinker, articulated a philosophy that centered on the protection of natural rights as the fundamental purpose of government. He believed that all individuals are entitled to inherent rights, including life, liberty, and property. According to Locke, the government's prime role is to secure these rights for its citizens, establishing a social contract where citizens consent to be governed in exchange for the protection of their natural rights.

This concept laid the groundwork for modern democracy and influenced numerous political ideologies, emphasizing that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed and exist primarily to safeguard individual freedoms. In Locke's view, if a government fails to uphold this responsibility, citizens have the right to revolt and establish a new government that would better fulfill this aim. Thus, the idea that government exists to protect natural rights encapsulates Locke's philosophy and rationale on governance.