John Locke's Two Treatises on Government: A Foundation for Modern Political Thought

John Locke's Two Treatises on Government is a seminal work of political philosophy that has had a profound influence on the development of modern democratic thought. Published in 1689, the Treatises were written in response to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which had overthrown the Catholic King James II and established the Protestant William III and Mary II on the English throne.

In the Treatises, Locke argues that all human beings are born with certain natural rights, including the right to life, liberty, and property. These rights are inherent and inalienable, meaning that they cannot be taken away by any government. Locke also argues that governments are instituted by the people in order to protect these natural rights. When a government fails to protect these rights, the people have the right to overthrow it.

John Locke's Two Treatises on Government: A Translation into Modern English (Annotated) (ISR Business and the political-legal environment studies)

by Heather Fowler-Salamini

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Language	:	English
File size	:	1451 KB
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Locke's ideas were radical for his time, and they played a major role in the development of democratic thought. The Treatises were used to justify the American Revolution and the French Revolution, and they continue to be studied today by political philosophers and historians.

The First Treatise: On Civil Government

The First Treatise is a critique of the divine right of kings. Locke argues that kings do not have a divine right to rule, and that they are subject to the same laws as everyone else. He also argues that the people have the right to overthrow a king who violates their natural rights.

Locke's critique of the divine right of kings was based on several arguments. First, he argued that there is no evidence to support the claim that kings have a divine right to rule. Second, he argued that the idea of a divine right to rule is incompatible with the idea of human equality. Third, he argued that the idea of a divine right to rule is dangerous, because it can lead to tyranny.

Locke's arguments against the divine right of kings were influential in the development of democratic thought. They helped to lay the foundation for the idea that governments are based on the consent of the governed.

The Second Treatise: On Civil Society

The Second Treatise is a more systematic account of Locke's political philosophy. In this treatise, Locke argues that the state of nature is a state of war, and that the only way to escape this state is to create a civil society. A civil society is a society in which the people have agreed to live under a common set of laws.

Locke argues that the purpose of civil society is to protect the natural rights of the people. He also argues that the people have the right to overthrow a government that fails to protect their natural rights.

Locke's ideas about civil society were influential in the development of modern democracy. They helped to lay the foundation for the idea that governments are based on the consent of the governed.

John Locke's Two Treatises on Government is a foundational work of modern political thought. In these Treatises, Locke argues that all human beings are born with certain natural rights, that governments are instituted by the people to protect these rights, and that the people have the right to overthrow a government that fails to protect their rights.

Locke's ideas had a profound influence on the development of democratic thought. They were used to justify the American Revolution and the French Revolution, and they continue to be studied today by political philosophers and historians.

Further Reading

* [John Locke's Two Treatises on Government](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7370/7370-h/7370-h.htm) * [The Cambridge Companion to Locke's Two Treatises of Government](https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-companion-to-lockes-two-treatises-of-government/04AC75802612D591F173D5D01038A2A3) * [Locke's Two Treatises of Government: An Interpretation](https://global.oup.com/academic/product/lockes-two-treatises-of-government-9780199559676?cc=gb&lang=en&)

John Locke's Two Treatises on Government: A Translation into Modern English (Annotated) (ISR Business and the political-legal environment studies)

by Heather Fowler-Salamini

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1451 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	352 pages
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE