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Second Treatise of Government: An Essay Concering the True Original, Extent and End of Civil Government (Crofts Classics Series) Review

John Locke presents in "Second Treatise on Government," his theory of government which he believes is essential to promulgate "lest men fall into the dangerous belief that all government in the world is merely the product of force and violence."

Locke defines political power as, "a right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently all less penalties, for the regulating and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community, in the execution of such laws, and in the defense of the common-wealth from foreign injury; and all this only for the public good." In order to explain political power, Locke presents his theory of the state of nature. To better explain his thoughts on the state of nature, he argues that, basically, in a state of nature there is also a state of equality. Locke asserts that all men are created equal, and therefore, no person should violate another person's rights. Further, Locke argues that if a person should ever harm another, since as we are all equal doing so would essentially be harming ones self.

Liberty is a reccuring theme and prominently featured in Locke's writings. Locke asserts that liberty is the freedom to be governed exclusively by the laws of nature and by nothing and no one else. After reading this book, one might wonder what Locke's personal feelings were regarding such issues as the European slave trade and/ or the displacement and subsequent genocide of Native Americans Indians, which occurred during his lifetime.

Second Treatise of Government: An Essay Concering the True Original, Extent and End of Civil Government (Crofts Classics Series) Overview

Library of Liberal Arts title.

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Customer Reviews

At issue - M. Williams - Clemmons, NC United States
John Locke, a political 'liberal' by definition in his day in the 17th century would be considered a 'constitutional libertarian' by today's standard. To call him a 'liberal' by today's standard vocabulary would invite a feast of historical revisionism to the table. Having read most every sentence written by Locke, More, Erasmus, most Tudorian Humanists, and Empiricists, I would say John Locke is easily the most profound influence on Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Given that I also have an original copy of his translation and commentary of the Greek New Testament is also a grave contradiction to the mysterious 'Description' here on Amazon. I will quote:

"Some maintain that religious fundamentalism, 'post-modernism', and socialism are today the only remaining ideological threats to liberalism.".

The only thing to be said for this is poppycock. Locke never said nor would he have ever stated such a phrase. It is rabid historical revisionist flotsam. Locke was no anti-religious bigot as most liberals are today. Not only was he well educated, he was a first hand respecter and translator of the Greek text of the Bible. Most liberals today have a near-impossible task of telling you what dialect of the Greek text Locke translated much less have they ever read so much as an English translation of the New Testament. A far cry from the intellectual superiority of ages past when faith was well-understood amoung the many universal subjects of importance to life and liberty.






A foundation for future political philosophies - David Craig - United States
In contrast to what was being claimed by the rulers of the time, John Locke taught that the purpose of government is to serve and benefit the people and that it should be controlled by the people for which the government was made. Although Locke's ideas are taken for granted in the United States as a basic right of the people today, and are virtually written into the Declaration of Independence, Locke's claim that people have the right to rebel against government was controversial when he wrote it. Second Treatise of Government served as a foundation for future political philosophies which are widely accepted today.



An important book in colonial times--and today - C. McPherson - U.S.A.
Any student of American history, particularly of the revolution and the formation of the Constitution, should read this book. It is a book that the revolutionaries themselves were well acquainted with, and formed the rational basis for justifying both the Revolution and the establishment of the Constitution.

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