A Letter Concerning Toleration

The Letter Concerning Toleration or letter about the tolerance (Latin original title Epistola de tolerantia, A letter Concerning Toleration English title ) is a publication of the English philosopher John Locke.

History

The first edition was published anonymously in 1689 in Gouda in Latin, the text was, however, soon afterwards translated into several languages. John Locke wrote this letter during a stay in exile in the Netherlands. In this text, John Locke is concerned with the problem of denominations, and approve the religions the right to to prove themselves through practice, without fear of persecution if they are not endangered the state.

Excerpt from the Letter Concerning Toleration:

" ... Civil interests I call life, liberty, health, no pain of the body and the possession of external things such as money, lands, houses, furniture and the like. It is the responsibility of public authorities, by the impartial execution of laws that are common to all, generally to secure the entire nation and each of their subjects in particular the just possession of these things belonging to his life. ... "

First editions

• Epistola de tolerantia ad clarissimum virum TARPTOLA [ i.e., Theologiae apud Remonstrantes professorem, tyrannorum osorem, Limborch Amstelodamensem ]. Apud Justum from Hoeve, Gouda, 1689th ( Latin )
• Letter Concerning Toleration. London 1689th ( English translation by W. Popple )
• Missives from the Tolerantz: or of religion and conscience liberty. 1710. ( German translation from the Latin text )
• Lettre sur la tolerance. In: Oeuvres diverses de monsieur Jean Locke. Fritsch et Böhm, Rotterdam 1710. ( French translation )