John Locke’s (1632-1704) two Treatises on Government, particularly the second, stand as foundational texts in the history of political ideas, providing the philosophical bedrock for modern liberalism.
Written in the wake of England’s Glorious Revolution of 1688, Locke’s work sought to establish a defensible basis for government, rejecting the prevailing doctrine of hereditary power and the divine right of kings. His arguments, emphasizing individual rights, consent of the governed, and limited government, profoundly influenced the American Constitution and subsequent democratic thought across the Western world.
Locke begins his political philosophy by refuting Sir Robert Filmer’s doctrine of hereditary power, which asserted that kingly authority descended directly from Adam. Locke meticulously dismantled this theory, highlighting the absurdity of claiming to be Adam’s sole heir and emphasizing the equal rights of mothers in parental power.
He argued that parental power is temporary and limited, ceasing when children reach maturity. Having dismissed hereditary claims, Locke then sought to establish the true origin of government in a “state of nature.”
🌿 The State of Nature and Natural Law: A Moral Foundation
For Locke, the state of nature is a pre-political condition governed by the “law of nature,” which consists of divine commands accessible through reason. Unlike Hobbes’s brutal “war of all against all,” Locke’s state of nature is characterized by “peace, good-will, mutual assistance and preservation,” where all individuals are equal and independent.
The law of nature dictates that no one ought to harm another in their life, health, liberty, or possessions, as all humans are God’s property. In this state, every individual possesses the right to defend themselves and punish transgressors, even to the point of killing a thief.
However, the state of nature suffers from the inconvenience that every man is a judge in his own cause, which leads to potential disorder and partiality. This inherent flaw necessitates the institution of civil government.
🤝 The Social Contract: Government by Consent and Property Rights
Men escape the inconveniences of the state of nature by entering into a social contract, a compact to create a civil government. This contract binds only those who consent to it, with majority rule being a key principle (though Locke implicitly excluded women and the poor from full citizenship rights).
For Locke, the “great and chief end of men uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property.” This makes property rights central to his political philosophy. He asserts that the supreme power (the legislature) cannot take any man’s property without his consent and that even military commanders have no power over money. While he acknowledges the necessity of taxation, it must be with the consent of the majority.
Locke’s theory of checks and balances, particularly the separation of legislative and executive functions, aimed to prevent the abuse of power, though he said little about the judiciary.
His political philosophy, while foundational for democracy and individual liberties, has been criticized for its worship of property and its limitations in addressing the complexities of industrial society. Nevertheless, Locke’s enduring legacy lies in his articulation of government by consent, natural rights, and the rule of law—principles that continue to shape modern political thought.
Source: Russell, Bertrand. A History of Western Philosophy. Simon and Schuster, 1945.
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- John Dewey: Instrumentalism and the Evolution of Truth
- Locke’s Theory of Knowledge: How Did Empiricism Challenge Innate Ideas?
- Schopenhauer: The Philosopher of Will, Suffering, and Pessimism
