Locke's Second Treatise of Government Flashcards
(26 cards)
human nature and the state of nature
For Locke, human beings are rational, equal, and naturally governed by the Law of Nature, which commands respect for life, liberty, and property
quote on human nature and the state of nature
“The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges everyone: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind… that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another.”
argument on human nature and the state of nature
In the state of nature, individuals are free but bound by natural law to respect others’ rights
Violators (e.g., thieves, murderers) create disorder, but reason shows all humans should seek peace
reasoning on human nature and the state of nature
Locke believes God created humans as His workmanship - no one has a right to destroy another’s life
Reason reveals moral obligations, making cooperative society possible even without formal government (at least temporarily)
Comparison to Other Thinkers on human nature and the state of nature
Hobbes: Locke is more optimistic: humans can cooperate through reason; Hobbes sees constant conflict
Plato: Locke focuses on individual rights; Plato focuses on psychic harmony and justice
Aristotle: Locke shifts emphasis from communal virtue to individual rights
Machiavelli: Locke believes in moral limits on political action; Machiavelli rejects moral constraint
Hume: Locke’s view of innate reason contrasts with Hume’s skepticism about human rationality
on property
Property, for Locke, arises when individuals mix their labor with natural resources, making them their own
quote for on property
“Every man has a property in his own person… The labor of his body, and the work of his hands, we may say, are properly his.”
argument on property
Labor creates ownership because it removes resources from the common and adds personal value
Property rights exist before government and limit what government may do
Important: Locke adds the Proviso:
You must leave “enough and as good” for others
Accumulation beyond use (leading to spoilage) is forbidden - unless mitigated by the invention of money.
reasoning on property
God’s grant of the earth to humanity implies individual appropriation through work
Labor gives moral entitlement; otherwise, natural resources would go unused
comparison to other thinkers on property
Hobbes: Property only secure by sovereign command; Locke says it exists naturally
Plato: Plato sees communal property (especially among guardians) as ideal; Locke defends private property
Aristotle: Sees private property as natural but encourages generous use; Locke focuses on labor and individual entitlement
Machiavelli: Property is secondary to power and survival in Machiavelli
Hume: Believes property rights arise through convention over time, not through labor mixing
political society and consent
Political society is created when individuals consent to form a government that protects their natural rights
quote on political society and consent
“Men being, as has been said, by nature all free, equal, and independent, no one can be subjected to the political power of another without his own consent.”
argument on political society and consent
To avoid inconvenience in enforcing natural law individually (bias, partiality, inefficiency), people consent to political authority
Governments derive legitimacy from the consent of the governed
reasoning on political society and consent
Political power is trust granted for a specific purpose: protecting life, liberty, and property
If government violates this trust, it forfeits its legitimacy
Comparison to Other Thinkers on political society and consent
Hobbes: Consent creates sovereign power too, but Hobbes’ sovereign is absolute; Locke’s government is limited and conditional
Plato: No notion of consent in Plato; rulers rule because they know the Good
Aristotle: Does not ground political legitimacy in consent, but in achieving the good life
Machiavelli: Legitimacy comes from power and success, not consent
Hume: Skeptical of consent theory; sees government arising from habit, not contract
right of revolution
The people have a right to revolt when government violates its trust and infringes on life, liberty, or property.
quote on right of revolution
“The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property… whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people… they put themselves into a state of war with the people.”
argument on right of revolution
Governments are dissolved when they become arbitrary or tyrannical
People retain the ultimate sovereignty
Not every minor abuse justifies rebellion - only persistent and major breaches
Locke’s view of revolution is cautious:
Not every minor abuse justifies rebellion - only persistent and major breaches
reasoning for right of revolution
Since government power is a trust, it can be revoked when it betrays its founding purpose
Locke stresses prudence: people suffer evils as long as possible before risking revolution
Comparison to Other Thinkers on right of revolution
Hobbes: Rejects any right to rebellion: sovereign power must be absolute to prevent chaos
Plato: Would see revolt against philosopher-kings as madness
Machiavelli: Revolution is part of the political cycle; rulers must manage and anticipate it
Aristotle: Accepts revolution when regimes deviate too far from the common good
Hume: Wary of revolution: fears it leads to more instability and suffering than moderate reform
Diversity, Toleration, and Limits
Diversity of religious belief is tolerable, provided it does not threaten the public peace or moral order
quote of diversity, toleration, and limits
“The care of souls is not committed to the magistrate.”
argument on diversity, toleration, and limits
Civil government concerns civil interests (life, liberty, estate)
Religion concerns salvation - a matter between individual and God
Therefore, states should not enforce religious conformity (except against groups that promote violence or deny basic moral obligations).
