An analysis of John Locke's Two treatises of government

In: The Macat Library

Abstract

"John Locke';s 1689 Two Treatises of Government is a key text in the history of political theory--one whose influence remains marked on modern politics, the American Constitution and beyond. Two Treatises is more than a seminal work on the nature and legitimacy of government. It is also a masterclass in two key critical thinking skills: evaluation and reasoning. Evaluation is all about judging and assessing arguments--asking how relevant, adequate and convincing they are. And, at its heart, the first of Locke';s two treatises is pure evaluation: a long and incisive dissection of a treatise on the arguments in Sir Robert Filmer';s Patriarcha. Filmer';s book had defended the doctrine that kings were absolute rulers whose legitimacy came directly from God (the so-called "divine right of kings"), basing his arguments on Biblical explanation's and evidence. Locke carefully rebutted Filmer';s arguments, on their own terms, by reference to both the Bible and to recorded history. Finding Filmer';s evidence either to be insufficient or unacceptable, Locke concluded that his argument for patriarchy was weak to the point of invalidity. In the second of Locke';s treatises, the author goes on to construct his own argument concerning the sources of legitimate power, and the nature of that power. Carefully building his own argument from a logical consideration of man in "the state of nature", Locke creates a convincing argument that civilised society should be based on natural human rights and the social contract."--Provided by publisher.