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In The Second Treatise of Government, John Locke answered
two objectives: to refute the concept of the monarchy's divine
right and to establish a theory reconciling civil liberties with
political order. His Letter Concerning Toleration rests on
the same basic principles as his political theory; Locke's main
argument for toleration is a corollary of his theory of the nature
of civil society. The basis of social and political philosophy for
generations, these works laid the foundation of the modern
democratic state in England and abroad. Their enduring importance
makes them essential reading for students of philosophy, history,
and political science. Unabridged republication of a standard
edition.
The Second Treatise of Government...(Locke)Reviewed by Bess M. Huber, 2008-08-28
The book arrived quicker than I expected, and in excellent condition. Very good service. It is important for my collection, and necessary to a grass-roots effort I'm involved in with others in Jackson County, AL-- the goal of cleaning out corruption in local government. Today Jackson County, tomorrow the State of Alabama, then on to Washington, D.C. When all that is cleaned up, I will have been in Heaven a long time, but my grandchildren may be able to live free!
Most Representative Thinker in Anglo-American TraditionReviewed by Michael A Neulander, 2006-08-24
John Locke (1632-1704) wrote "Second Treatise of Government" in
1690, it was the main political philosophical source that our
"Founding Fathers" went to in writing the "Declaration of
Independence" and in forming our government. I think you should
know something of Locke to understand what influenced his thinking.
His father was a small landowner, attorney, Puritan and his
political sympathies were with the Cromwell Parliament. Like
Hobbes, Locke attended Oxford Univ. and did not think much about
the curriculum or his professors. Most of his education came from
reading books in the Univ. library. Renee Descartes and Sir Isaac
Newton's writings greatly influenced Locke. Like Hobbes, he took a
tutoring job teaching the son of the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and
traveled Europe. His friendship with the Earl was beneficial in
obtaining government appointments. During the political unrest in
England, (1679-83) he fled to Holland because his liberal notions
put him at odds with the government.
Locke writes the "Second Treatise of Government" to justify the
Revolt of 1688 and the ascension of William of Orange to the
English throne. The book argues against two lines of absolutist
ideas. The first is Sir Robert Filmer's "patriarchal theory of
divine right of kings; secondly, Hobbes argument for the
sovereign's absolute power in his book "Leviathan." Locke argues
that government emanates from the people. Locke's treatise rests
like other political writings on its interpretation of human
nature. He sees our nature opposite the way Hobbes did, decent and
not as selfish or competitive. Man is more inclined to join society
through reason and not fear. Man prefers stability to change.
His very important contribution to "law of nature" theory was his
bias toward individualism. In state of nature, before government,
men were free independent, equal enjoying inalienable rights "chief
among them being life, liberty, and property." Where have you read
that before? Property rights receive much attention in this
treatise. Locke argues that government based on consent of man can
still preserve freedom independence and equality.
His political writing had immediate influence in the world and
influenced our founding fathers in their struggle against tyranny.
He is an excellent writer and his theories are easy to understand
by the laymen. As a graduate student of political philosophy, I
recommend if you have an interest in politics, philosophy, or
government then you must read Locke's "Second Treatise of
Government"
