ABSTRACT
Locke’s metaethics are difficult to pin down, both because Locke says far too little about what we think of as his central metaethical positions and because what he says seems inconsistent. In this chapter I first consider Locke’s theory of mixed modes which he uses to present moral ideas. I then discuss Locke’s conception of law in general and natural law in particular, which are crucial for how he understands ethics in general. Following this, I consider a contemporary criticism and defence of Locke, the latter of which go beyond Locke in intriguing ways.
