Summary Of The Second Treatise Of Government By John Locke

Locke and Jefferson have different ways of evaluating government than the Ayn Rand Institute. Both philosophers believe certain rights are inalienable to all of men, but when government starts to renege on its original intent, people as a whole may come together and overthrow the government. For Locke government starts with a civil association, or a group of like-minded people who want to protect themselves from the dangers that could potentially arise in the state of nature. Each individual that enters into civil society consents and the basis of authority is the determination of the people as a whole, better known as popular sovereignty. Back in Locke’s time it was commonly held that popular sovereignty would lead to chaos and frequent rebellion. In spite of this, Locke argues that popular sovereignty is the best guarantee against unwarranted rebellion since the population would collectively determine the appropriate remedy. Locke reasons that if the decision to revolt were left up to the individual that it would “unhinge and overturn all polities, and, instead of government and order, leave nothing but anarchy and confusion.” To support collectivism, Locke says as long as the society lasts the power each individual relinquished upon entering does not revert back to the individual. Therefore, even though the government has collapsed the “commonwealth [is] still preserved” and the notion of popular sovereignty remains intact. Another strong piece to add to this counterargument would be to discuss Locke’s ideas on the individual right to punish. Since there is no common authority in the state of nature, Locke holds that individuals have the right to punish those who threaten their self-preservation and individual freedom. However prior to entering a civil association, individuals forfeit their right to punish and confer it upon the government. Therefore, the use of individual rights and

John Locke was perhaps one of the most influential political philosophers of the modern period. In the Second Treatise of Government, John Locke discusses the move from a state of nature and perfect freedom to a then governed society in which authority is given to a legislative and executive power. His major ideas included liberalism and capitalism, state of nature, state of war and the desire to protect one’s property.

John Locke was an English writer, and his writings were based on the events that took place during the Glorious Revolution in England in 1689, when the people of England overthrew King James II. John Locke was interestingly enough, brought up in a loyalist and Evangelical family. He was born to a very wealthy family, and received much prestige in Oxford for his connections to the higher ups. Locke presented his ideas of rebellion during the English civil war which took place in the mid-1600s, in favor of the revolts against the King’s rule in England at the time. John Locke graduated with a degree in medicine from Oxford University.

This system stems from John Locke’s theory on civil society and the extent of legislative power, stating that the civil government’s job is to protect the people’s natural rights, and he believes that the absolute monarchy he lives under does not provide that protection. Locke explains, “…(man) could never be safe nor at rest, nor think themselves in civil society, till the legislature was placed in collective bodies of men, call them senate, parliament, or what you please.” He believes that absolute monarchy places no common authority over all people; thus, by placing power in one person, the entire society deteriorates. Since the monarch can encroach on people's property and wellbeing without fear of punishment, the people lack the protection, comfort, and motivation to contribute to the good of the society. Thus, Locke clarifies that “No man in civil society can be exempted from the laws of it.” This causes the person in power to fear punishment from encroaching on people’s property or wellbeing and protects from the political domination they would be imposing if the law did not apply to them. If the person in power continued to impinge on people’s natural rights, Locke then believed that the people had the right to a revolution against their tyrannous monarch. Locke justifies this, saying “This I am sure, whoever, either ruler or subject, by force goes about to invade the rights of either prince or people, and lays the foundation for overturning the constitution and frame of any just government, is highly guilty of the greatest crime, I think, a man is capable of, being to answer for all those mischiefs of blood, rapine, and desolation, which the breaking to pieces of government bring on a country.” Locke’s basis of natural rights

John Locke was an Enlightenment writer and a political theorist. He wrote the “Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, which helped advance the theory of self-progression through experience. He argued that a government is not formed without the consent of people who in turn obey it, meaning that the established government was formed by consenting individuals and obeyed by those consenting to it.

John Locke was an English Philosopher in the seventeenth century that created many ideas used the American and French revolutions. In the Second Treatise, Locke argues the case for individual natural rights, limited government depending on the consent of the governed, and a separation of powers. He says that the efforts of a government are “to be directed to no other end but the peace, safety, and public good of the people” (Locke). These same principles can be seen in the founding father’s Declaration of Independence. In the second paragraph, it states that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The founding fathers took a more religious stance, but they both believe that government is designed to protect the rights of the people. The founding fathers took inspiration from many political philosophers like John Locke, especially on the point of natural

John Locke presenting many ideas relating to Government, one strong belief he possessed was the fact that a good democratic Government had to exist through the permission of the people being ruled. Seeing that people are born natural free and have control over their political and social state of mind, they had to surrender some of their rights to the government for that government

Locke pursues the idea that we are born with the choice to adhere to a government, and also the extent to which the government can interfere. Since power is only legitimate with consent, the laws are the same. People cannot be “bound by any laws but such as are enacted by those whom they have chosen and authorized to make laws for them.” (pg 66) Absolute monarchs are not appointed by the citizens, but instead inherit their position.

In Chapter 2 of John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, Locke discusses man’s natural state in relation to government. He claims that in order “[t]o understand political power [...] we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom (emphasis added) to order their actions” (Locke Second Treatise of Government, Sec. 4). But Locke immediately follows this statement by saying that people may act “as they think fit,” but “within the bounds of the law of nature” (Locke Sec. 4). There is a clear inconsistency in Locke’s diction: he claims that men naturally have absolute freedom, but then says that this freedom is limited by nature itself. What exactly is Locke implying when he refers to “nature”? Is it the nature of the Earth, or could it be Locke be referring to a Biblical nature? Either way, if men are bound by “the law of

He studied medicine and natural philosophy. Locke writing has impact so many philosophers like Rousseau, Voltaire and much more. He is often regarded as the founder of a school of thought known as British Empiricism, and he made foundational contributions to modern theories of limited, liberal government (Connolly J. Patrick, 2002). Locke was important in theology, religious toleration, and educational theory. John Locke was the

He starts off this chapter by saying that “God having made man such a creature, that in his own judgement, it was not good for him to be alone…” (42). While saying that men should always work together, Locke also talks about how a man can also join a political society “where every one of the members hath quitted this natural power, resigned it up into the hands of the community in all cases that lished by it” (46). Here, Locke is saying how if a man wants to be a part of the political party, he must get rid of some or all the things that a state of nature provides to him. Locke believes this is how a political society should work because if a man wishes to live in a society ran off political ideas, he must give up his state of nature to live in a civil political society which does not give him more freedom or rights than any other

Locke describes his ideal form of government as limited in its capabilities, to prevent the corruption and give the people of the city-state the freedom entitled to them by the state of nature. Unlock Aristotle, Locke focuses on one aspect of freedom that he believes to be, above all others, the best representation of human freedom, which is the ability for humans to accumulate and own property. As with Aristotle it is best to look at the natural law that Locke believes drives humans to adequately understand why he believes that governments are in place in the city-state. Locke and Aristotle believe that reason is the natural law that guides humans, but Locke writes that when in the state of nature, humans are equals in every way and naturally interact and form communities. Locke states that the one right that all humans have, is to protect themselves from harm, “… every man upon this score, by the Right he hath to preserve Mankind in general, may restrain, or where it is necessary, destroy things noxious to them” (Locke, ch.2 sc.8). This statement is the foundation for why Locke believes governments are necessary. Government exists for the sole purpose of protecting each individual’s right to own property, “Political Power then I take to be a Right of making laws with Penalties of Death, and consequently all less Penalties, for the Regulating and Preserving of Property” (ch.1 sc.3). Government allows individuals their natural right to accumulate property without fear of others harming them or taking away their

Unlike Madison, Locke’s political system allowed for the government to pass laws deemed necessary to preserve the rights of its citizens. Without the checks and balances to prevent a governmental encroachment on individuals’ rights, Locke believed that any major encroachment on the individuals’ right would be seen by society as a breach of the social contract. This would then result in a revolution to replace the government in power in order to restore inalienable rights. The idea of a revolution would similarly keep the government in check as they would recognize the power of the

Locke states that the dissolution of the government can be completed if the officials overstep the trust placed in them. Locke also believes that if an official passes a law the people who appointed them did not wish for them to pass, then they are ruling without authority. If a government fails to enforce laws in society or uses force without rights, then the people are able to create a new legislative power.

John Locke laid out a series of principles in his Two Treatises on Government, stating that men are naturally free and equal and able to