John Locke's "Second Treatise of Government," published in 1690, explores the fundamental principles of political power and the preservation of property. The core argument posits that individuals enter into society for the preservation of their property, and government's primary purpose is to secure these rights. Laws are established as safeguards for property, limiting the power of rulers. When those in power, whether legislative or executive, transgress this fundamental rule by attempting to seize absolute control over lives, liberties, and estates, they breach their trust.
This breach of trust dissolves the people's obligation to obey, returning power to the community. The people then have the right to resume their original liberty and establish a new legislative body to ensure their safety and security. Locke emphasizes that the supreme power cannot arbitrarily take any part of a subject's property without their consent, as this would negate the very reason for entering into society. Engaging with this text offers insight into the foundations of liberal political thought, particularly concerning individual rights and the limits of governmental authority.
Key concepts in The Second Treatise of Government
- Preservation of Property — The primary reason individuals form societies and establish governments is to protect their possessions and estates.
- Breach of Trust — When governing bodies exceed their authority and act against the people's interests, they forfeit their legitimacy.
- Right to Resume Liberty — The people have the right to reclaim their freedom and establish new governance if their rulers violate the social contract.
- Consent to Property Taking — Government cannot seize subjects' property without their explicit or implicit consent.
- Political Power as Trust — Power granted to governors is entrusted to them for the good and preservation of the people's property.
From the book
Digitized by Dave Gowan. John Locke’s “Second Treatise of Government”
was published in 1690. The complete unabridged text has been republished
several times in edited commentaries. This text is recovered entire from
Popular questions readers ask
- Locke states the lost middle papers "were more than all the rest" and contained a detailed refutation of Sir Robert Filmer. If these papers were rediscovered, how might their content alter or deepen our understanding of Locke's arguments in the "Second Treatise," particularly regarding the scope and nature of the challenges he sought to overcome?
- Locke explicitly states his purpose is to "establish the throne of our great restorer, our present King William; to make good his title, in the consent of the people." Explain how this immediate political agenda might shape the *types* of philosophical arguments Locke presents about the "true original extent and end of Civil Government," and what implications this has for the universal applicability of his theories.
- The preface mentions the English people "saved the nation when it was on the very brink of slavery and ruin." Without reading the core arguments of the Treatise, what fundamental assumptions about the nature of power, individual liberty, and the ultimate purpose of government can you infer Locke already holds, simply from this strong assertion?
- The title page states the work "DETECTED AND OVERTHROWN" the "FALSE PRINCIPLES AND FOUNDATION OF SIR ROBERT FILMER." Based solely on Locke's stated justification for King William's rule through "the consent of the people," how would you hypothesize the core difference between Filmer's "false principles" and Locke's "true original extent and end of Civil Government"?
- The text details various editions, collations, and Locke's "last Corrections and Improvements." How do these textual history details influence our approach to interpreting Locke's work, and what specific questions might a scholar ask about the evolution or stability of Locke's ideas given the existence of multiple authoritative versions?