Abstract
This chapter discusses Locke's philosophy of money formulated in the midst of the crisis of English coin caused by the radical depletion of silver during the Nine Years' War (1688-1697). Rampant clipping had reduced the average weight of coins by fifty per cent but Locke resisted the solution of devaluing the currency and instead defended the sanctity of the existing monetary standard. To explain Locke's commitment I consider his political position and his philosophy of language. Locke emerges as a defender of intersubjective agreements even where discretion exists for changing the meaning of terms like money; specifically he insists on the independent measure or rule for regulating exchange, in this case silver by weight (not its stamp or denomination).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 57-81 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |