In historical, philosophical and legal scientific studies considerable attention is paid to the political and normative doctrine of J. Locke and, to a lesser extent, his criminal-legal views. At the same time, in both cases, the focus is shifted to the content of the author’s manuscripts without the context of personal development in a specific social environment and in isolation from the plays he occupies in the system of historical and biographical coordinates. In this regard, the objectives of this article: 1) to analyze the factors that contributed to the ontogenesis of J. Locke’s fundamental ideas, 2) to demonstrate the inseparable connection of the philosopher’s general criminal worldviews with his natural-humanitarian reception, 3) to identify the stages of transformation of his beliefs taking into account significant public events. To achieve these goals, scientific theoretical (historical, hypothetical, generalization) and logical (analysis, synthesis, analogy, deduction) methods are used. The archival materials, works of foreign scientists on the study of English legislation and key milestones of the Enlightenment, medical records and essays by J. Locke, representatives of the school of naturalists and theologians were used.