Two Treatises of Government

Two Treatises of Government. This foundational work of political philosophy by John Locke was published anonymously in 1689, following the Glorious Revolution. It systematically dismantles the doctrine of divine right of kings and establishes a theory of legitimate government based on popular sovereignty and natural rights. The text profoundly influenced revolutionary thought in Great Britain, the American Revolution, and the drafting of seminal documents like the United States Declaration of Independence.

Historical context and publication

The work was composed during the Exclusion Crisis and the subsequent political turmoil surrounding the reign of James II of England. Locke, associated with Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, likely wrote much of it while in exile in the Dutch Republic. It was published by Awnsham Churchill in the pivotal year following the Glorious Revolution, which saw William of Orange and Mary II ascend the throne. The publication date was post-dated to 1690, aligning it with the new political settlement and the Bill of Rights 1689. The anonymous authorship was a common precaution against political reprisal during this volatile period in English history.

Summary of the First Treatise

The First Treatise is a detailed polemical refutation of Robert Filmer's work Patriarcha, which argued for absolute monarchy by deriving political authority from the Adamic grant of power given by God. Locke meticulously attacks Filmer's scriptural arguments and his conflation of paternal authority with political power. He disputes the idea that contemporary monarchs could claim legitimate descent from Adam, thereby dismantling the theological foundation for hereditary right. By discrediting Filmer's theories, Locke clears the ground for his own constructive theory of government presented in the subsequent treatise.

Summary of the Second Treatise

The Second Treatise presents Locke's positive theory of government. It begins with a state of nature governed by natural law, where individuals possess inherent natural rights to life, liberty, and property. To secure these rights more effectively, individuals consent to form a political society and establish a civil government. Locke argues that the primary purpose of government is the protection of property, broadly defined. He elaborates on the separation of legislative and executive power, the concept of tacit consent, and the right of the people to dissolve a government that violates its fiduciary trust through tyranny or usurpation. This framework justifies resistance to tyranny as a legitimate recourse.

Key concepts and arguments

Central to Locke's philosophy is the labor theory of property, where ownership is established by mixing one's labor with resources from the commons. This leads to the invention of money, which allows for the accumulation of unequal possessions without spoilage. Government is instituted via a social contract to adjudicate disputes and protect these acquired rights. Locke's theory of consent of the governed makes political authority conditional and revocable. He distinguishes between the dissolution of society and the dissolution of government, advocating for the latter when the executive or legislature acts contrary to its mandate. These ideas directly challenged the prevailing absolutism of thinkers like Thomas Hobbes.

Influence and legacy

The Two Treatises became a cornerstone of Enlightenment thought and classical liberalism. Its principles were vividly enacted during the American Revolution, deeply influencing figures like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Founding Fathers. Key phrases from the Second Treatise resonate in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The work also inspired the philosophes of the French Revolution, including Voltaire and Rousseau. Its doctrines on limited government, separation of powers, and the right of revolution continue to underpin modern democratic and republican political systems worldwide. Category:1689 books Category:Political philosophy literature Category:Works by John Locke