Two Treatises of Government

Summary

«Two Treatises of Government» by John Locke is a seminal work in political philosophy, published in 1689. In the first treatise, Locke critiques the theory of the divine right of kings as presented by Robert Filmer in his work «Patriarcha». Locke rejects the notion that a monarch's power is divinely ordained and hereditary. In the second treatise, Locke outlines his theory of civil society and governance. He argues that all people are born free and equal, and that government should be based on the consent of the governed. Locke introduces the concept of natural rights, including the right to life, liberty, and property, and asserts that the primary purpose of government is to protect these rights. He also discusses the idea of the separation of powers and the right of the people to revolt against tyrannical rule. Locke's work significantly influenced the development of liberal democracy and political thought as a whole.