Locke the second treatise of government summary

Although Locke examines a structure in which people invest power in legislative and executive branches of government in exchange for giving up some freedom, he notes that democracy is not the only acceptable form of government. Whenever people give up a portion of their freedom, there must be trust between the people and the party to which power is given.

The people may bring new leadership to the existing government or develop a completely different system within which freedoms and property are still protected, but not by an all-powerful hand. In defining and proposing his ideal government, Locke introduced an array of concepts that have since formed the basis of most modern Western democracies.

Concepts like the state of nature, the state of war, property rights, the right to depose the government have become a kind of basic vocabulary in the defense and proliferation of liberal and democratic states. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. The First Treatise of Government. View Collection. Study Guide.

Locke the second treatise of government summary: Locke focuses on a more

Second Treatise of Government. John Locke, C. Macpherson, ed. Download PDF. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Locke the second treatise of government summary: Locke's account of political society is

Post Comment. Get curated recommendations matching your interests, plus enter our monthly book giveaway. Locke emphasizes individual liberty, the rule of law, and government by consent. His arguments innovate the relationship between citizens and their governments. He argues that protecting property rights is paramount. This ideology challenges the then-accepted notion of divine right of kings, advocating for a government that is accountable to its people.

These principles remain relevant today, influencing contemporary political thought. State of Nature and Social Contract Locke begins by defining the state of nature, where individuals enjoy inherent freedom. In this condition, reason governs human interactions. Conflicts arising from property disputes can lead to a state of war. To avoid chaos, individuals consent to form a civil society through a social contract.

This agreement allows them to protect their rights while creating a structured governing body. He claims that legitimate governments depend on the consent of the governed. When a government fails to protect individual rights, people have a right to revolt. This radical stance on rebellion is intended to curb tyranny. Locke argues that effective mechanisms for change reduce the likelihood of violent uprisings.

Another view offered by Locke is that it lets the rulers practice things that are outside the law as long as it serves the public good, many times, as historically seen he says, a wise ruler would exercise prerogative without breaking any laws. It is a relationship that depends on equal balance. When the ruler oversteps this, no one is left to be a judge and the people are left to appeal to Heaven and take action against him.

Locke sums up the different kinds of powers he has addressed so far — parental, political and despotical. Parental power is what parents exercise over their children, it is temporary and lasts until the child reaches maturity. This does not include the right to their property and while children are expected to honour their parents, they are not under any compulsory obligation to do so.

Political power works on the principle of consent that one gives the government to rule over him, the person exits their state of nature and is now under a common set of laws that preserve his property and punishment on transgression of the law. Despotical power is unwilling in nature, it is the absolute power exercised by a person over another against their will and does not allow them to own property in the first place.

Nature gives parents parental power, political power is given by consent and despotical power is forced. Locke states that a conqueror cannot truly rule over the people till he receives their consent and has no right to it either. He talks then of lawful conquest and makes some important points — first, those who helped the conqueror do not fall under his rule and often rewards for their contributions are pre-discussed.

Second, if governors are involved in the conquest then the people are only guilty if they gave them permission or aided them, otherwise, they are innocent. Third, the conqueror has the right over the lives of the conquered but not their property as others, like the family of the person conquered, would have prior rights to it. The last one, under the despotic power of the conqueror, can be challenged but he is at least expected to leave enough of the conquered estate so that his family may survive.

Locke the second treatise of government summary: Locke's Second Treatise on Civil Governmentserves

In a lawful government, the representatives or rulers are decided by proper channels of establishing them, in commonwealths, this is done by the people for whom this is their right. Anyone who gains power through other means and not the consent of the people shall not be obeyed or recognized as a legitimate ruler as he violates the law of nature.

Locke quotes King James I to speak of the risks of becoming a tyrant; he then says that not just a monarchy but other forms of governance can also fall into tyranny — if the body stops addressing the greater good of the people and rather decides to serve itself. Certain factors that stop the public from going against the government when this happens include the sanctity of the executive, trust in the laws, and fear that the opposition may not be successful.

If force was used by everyone all the time at any inconvenience then society would be in complete chaos. In the last chapter Locke talks about the formation of a new government should the need arise. This can be done if the legislature ignores its duties and abuses its power, when it is usurped or when it and the executive have a breach of trust.

The idea that the legislature can be re-made does not cause unnecessary unrest as people are used to a certain way of working, rebellions can happen under any system but revolutions primarily are born due to flagrant abuse of power by authority. The system protects people in this way as it gives the option of a peaceful change of authority rather than one that requires force.

Locke notes that revolution is not something to be afraid of as it is a rebellion against unjust practices fuelled by righteousness. Using the words of William Barclay, Locke describes the circumstances where people may overthrow the ruler — his point is to establish that even a royal defender agrees that should a king use his power against the public or not for its good, then the people hold the right to overthrow him.

It can only be lifted when the aggressor is killed or reparations are made. In terms of slavery, Locke states that it is only just for a man to be enslaved when he forfeits his life due to his usage of force against his conqueror. It is not just for any man to exercise absolute or arbitrary power over another. Absolute monarchs who do so are guilty of creating a state of war between themselves and their subjects.

Any land he cultivates can be considered his property, as well as any fruits of the earth that he picks. As populations grow and societies establish currencies, a government is needed to regulate property. Civil government is established when the people consent to be governed. They cannot be forced into allegiance or fealty to a government. The people give up their rights to perfect freedom, judgment, and punishment, and invest these powers in a legislative and executive power.

Locke does not believe democracy is the only type of valid government, but he does firmly state that absolute monarchies are completely at odds with civil society because the ruler has no limitations on his power.