According to John Locke, who grants individuals their natural rights?

John Locke, a prominent Enlightenment thinker, argued that individuals are granted their natural rights by God. In his view, natural rights are inherent and inalienable, meaning they are not bestowed by any authority or society but are rather intrinsic to human beings by virtue of their existence. Locke's philosophy posits that all individuals are entitled to life, liberty, and property, and these rights exist independently of government or societal recognition.

Locke believed that it is the role of government to protect these natural rights rather than to create or grant them. This aligns with his social contract theory, where individuals give up certain freedoms in exchange for the protection of their natural rights; however, the ultimate source of these rights originates from God. This perspective was foundational in shaping modern democratic governments and the concept of individual rights.