John Locke's Views on Government and Society

Jan 18, 2025

Key Points from John Locke's Second Treatise of Government

Introduction

  • John Locke's "Second Treatise of Government" was published in 1690.
  • It forms part of his broader work "Two Treatises of Government."
  • The text focuses on civil government and the true original, extent, and end of civil government.

State of Nature

  • Humans are naturally in a state of perfect freedom and equality.
  • This state is governed by the law of nature, which obliges everyone to follow reason.
  • Locke argues that individuals have the right to enforce this law and punish those who transgress it.

State of War

  • A state of war arises when someone attempts to exert power over another without right.
  • It involves a state of enmity and destruction.

Property

  • Locke addresses how property is originally acquired, through labor.
  • The labor of a person makes the fruits of the earth their property.
  • There are natural limits to what one can claim, governed by need and spoilage.

Political or Civil Society

  • Men unite into political societies for mutual preservation of their lives, liberties, and estates.
  • The formation of government is through the consent of the governed.

Legislative Power

  • The legislative power is the supreme authority in government.
  • It should operate by promulgated and established laws, seeking the public good.

Conquest

  • Conquest does not inherently provide a right to govern.
  • A just conqueror has only despotical power over those who actively engaged in warfare.

Usurpation and Tyranny

  • Usurpation is the unlawful possession of power.
  • Tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right, for personal benefit, rather than for the public good.

Dissolution of Government

  • Government can dissolve due to external conquest or internal corruption.
  • A breach of trust by the rulers can lead to dissolution.

Role of Prerogative

  • Prerogative is the discretionary power of the executive to act for the public good without the prescription of law.
  • It becomes problematic when used for personal gain rather than public benefit.

Conclusion

  • Locke emphasizes the importance of the legislative power's alignment with the public good and the people's right to resist and alter government when it acts against their interest.
  • The text is foundational to modern democratic thought, emphasizing the principles of government by consent and the protection of individual rights.