Lecture Notes: John Locke's Second Treatise of Civil Government & The Declaration of Independence

Key Excerpts and Ideas

John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)

• Sec. 4:
  • Men are naturally in a state of perfect freedom.
  • The state of equality where power is reciprocal, no one has more power than another.
• Sec. 6:
  • Liberty is not license; man has liberty but not to destroy self or others without a nobler reason.
• Sec. 22:
  • Natural liberty is freedom from superior power, governed only by natural law.
  • In society, liberty means being under no legislative power but that established by common consent.
• Sec. 87:
  • Man has natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
  • Civil society requires a common law and authority to resolve disputes and punish offenses.
• Sec. 124:
  • The chief end of government is the preservation of property.
• Sec. 222:
  • When legislators destroy property or impose arbitrary power, people may resist and form a new government.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

• Main Ideas:
  • Asserts the right of people to dissolve political ties when governments fail to protect rights.
  • Declares that all men are created equal with unalienable rights: Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
  • Governments derive powers from the consent of the governed.
  • If a government becomes destructive, people have the right to alter or abolish it.

Comparison: Locke's Treatise vs. Declaration of Independence

1. Common Ideas/Principles:

   • Natural rights are fundamental and cannot be taken away.
   • Government's role is to protect these rights.
   • Consent of the governed is necessary for just government.
   • People have the right to change or remove a government that fails its duties.

2. Natural Condition of Mankind:

   • Locke: People are naturally free and equal.
   • Declaration: All men are created equal with rights.

3. Purpose of Government:

   • Locke: To preserve life, liberty, and property.
   • Declaration: To secure unalienable rights.

4. Consent of the Governed:

   • Locke: Essential for legitimate legislative power.
   • Declaration: Government derives its powers from the people's consent.

Critical Thinking Questions

• Analyze the philosophical underpinnings of both texts.
• Discuss the impact of Locke’s ideas on the Declaration.
• Reflect on the implications of these principles in today's governance.

Note:

• Spelling, spacing, and punctuation in the excerpts have been adjusted for clarity.