Second Treatise of the Government by John Locke Summary

Second Treatise of Government argues that legitimate governments derive power from the consent of the governed to protect natural rights like life, liberty, and property. Locke critiques absolute monarchy, advocating for majority rule and the right to overthrow governments that fail their people. The book foundational to social contract theory and modern democracy.

Students of political philosophy, historians, and readers interested in constitutionalism or democratic theory will benefit. Its ideas on natural rights and revolution influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence, making it essential for understanding Western political thought.

Yes, it’s a cornerstone of Enlightenment philosophy. Locke’s arguments for limited government, property rights, and popular sovereignty remain influential in legal and political systems. Its clarity on revolutionary justice makes it relevant to debates about civil rights and governance.

1. Natural Rights: Humans inherently possess life, liberty, and property.
2. Social Contract: Governments form via communal consent to protect rights.
3. Revolutionary Right: Citizens may overthrow tyrannical regimes.
4. Property Theory: Labor justifies ownership, but hoarding currency disrupts equality

Locke’s state of nature is a pre-governmental society where humans are free and equal, governed by natural law. Unlike Hobbes’ "war of all against all," Locke views it as cooperative but vulnerable to conflicts requiring a civil state for dispute resolution.

Locke argues property derives from labor: mixing effort with resources (e.g., farming land) grants ownership. However, hoarding money creates inequality, necessitating governments to arbitrate disputes. He prioritizes property protection, even over life in some cases.

Locke states governments dissolve when they violate natural rights or fail to enforce laws. The people then have a duty to rebel and establish new leadership. This "right to revolution" influenced democratic uprisings like the American Revolution.

Critics note Locke’s emphasis on property undermines equality and neglects non-landowners. His theory also assumes rationality in the state of nature, which critics argue oversimplifies human behavior. Others question his inconsistency on when rebellion is justified.

While both discuss social contracts, Hobbes advocates absolute monarchy to avoid chaos, whereas Locke supports limited government accountable to the people. Hobbes’ state of nature is brutish; Locke’s is cooperative but imperfect.

Its principles underpin modern democracies, constitutional rights, and debates about governmental overreach. Locke’s ideas resonate in discussions about privacy, property disputes, and civil disobedience, making it a staple in political discourse.

• “Government has no other end but the preservation of property.”
• “Where there is no law, there is no freedom.”

These emphasize Locke’s focus on lawful governance and economic rights as central to civil society.

The U.S. Constitution’s emphasis on consent of the governed, separation of powers, and unalienable rights directly reflects Locke’s theories. His work also informed judicial frameworks protecting individual liberties against state interference.