Two Treatises of Government

Definition

The Two Treatises of Government is a political work by John Locke, published in 1689, that outlines his ideas on natural rights, government, and the social contract. The first treatise critiques the concept of divine right monarchy, while the second treatise lays the foundation for modern democratic principles, advocating for individual liberty and government by consent.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The first treatise argues against the divine right of kings by dismantling the arguments made by Sir Robert Filmer in defense of monarchal authority.
2. In the second treatise, Locke presents the idea that government is established to protect the natural rights of individuals and can be dissolved if it fails to do so.
3. Locke's work greatly influenced Enlightenment thinkers and the development of liberal democracy, laying groundwork for later documents like the United States Declaration of Independence.
4. The idea of property as a natural right is central to Locke's philosophy, where he argues that individuals have the right to acquire and own property through their labor.
5. Locke's notions of political authority emphasized that governments should be based on popular sovereignty, where power derives from the consent of the governed.

Review Questions

• How does Locke's critique in the first treatise challenge existing views on monarchy during his time?
  • Locke's first treatise directly challenges the notion of divine right monarchy by refuting Filmer's arguments that kings rule by God's mandate. He argues that no individual has a natural right to rule over others simply based on birth. Instead, Locke posits that all men are equal in their natural rights, which fundamentally undermines the justification for absolute monarchies and promotes a more egalitarian view of political authority.
• Discuss the significance of the social contract as presented in the second treatise and how it reshapes our understanding of government.
  • In the second treatise, Locke introduces the social contract as a foundational concept in which individuals come together to form a government to safeguard their natural rights. This idea reshapes our understanding of governance by establishing that legitimate authority comes from the consent of the governed rather than through force or divine right. This concept laid the groundwork for democratic principles and established that people have the right to revolt against a government that fails to protect their rights.
• Evaluate how Locke's ideas in the Two Treatises of Government influenced modern democratic systems and concepts of citizenship.
  • Locke's Two Treatises of Government had a profound impact on modern democratic systems by embedding ideas such as individual rights, government accountability, and popular sovereignty into political thought. His arguments for natural rights and consent of the governed laid essential groundwork for contemporary concepts of citizenship, emphasizing that individuals are not subjects under arbitrary authority but active participants in shaping their government. This philosophical foundation inspired revolutions and constitutional frameworks across various nations, leading to a rethinking of political legitimacy and citizen rights in governance.

Related terms

Natural Rights: Fundamental rights that individuals are believed to possess inherently, such as life, liberty, and property, which governments are created to protect.

Social Contract: The philosophical concept that individuals consent to form a government and abide by its rules in exchange for protection of their rights.

Consent of the Governed: The principle that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is justified and lawful only when derived from the consent of its people.