Second Treatise of Government
Locke describes the state of nature, property, consent and limits on power to explain the formation and dissolution of political government. His theory influenced constitutionalism and attracted sustained criticism.
Understanding the text
Published with the first treatise in 1689 and dated 1690, the text belongs to English conflicts over authority. Its claims about land require examination alongside histories of colonization and slavery.
Key points
- 01
Rights
Natural liberty is constrained by a law of nature imposing obligations toward others.
- 02
Power
Government receives a limited trust and may be challenged when it destroys the rights it should protect.
- 03
Land
The labor theory of appropriation has been used and contested in colonial contexts.
Explore the ideas in depth
Consent and property
Examine rights, power and appropriation in the second treatise.
Rights
Natural liberty is constrained by a law of nature imposing obligations toward others. Locate the passage in its historical context and distinguish Locke’s claim from your contemporary examples.
Power
Government receives a limited trust and may be challenged when it destroys the rights it should protect. Compare the argument with an objection and examine which assumptions remain implicit.
Land
The labor theory of appropriation has been used and contested in colonial contexts. Specify limits and affected people before generalizing the text’s conclusion.
Questions to carry into your reading
- Who consents to an institution and who is excluded?
- What effects does the labor argument have in colonial contexts?
Analyze rights, consent and exclusion together, examining the effects of appropriation.
How to read it
Analyze rights, consent and exclusion together, examining the effects of appropriation.
Editions & sources
- Consult the reference 1plato.stanford.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 2plato.stanford.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 3iep.utm.edunew tab
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗