John Locke’s “Two Treatises of Government” is one of the greatest political works ever written. It had a massive influence on the founding documents of the United States – specifically, on our Declaration of Independence (as I show here), and on our Constitution (as I show here). Locke’s “Second Treatise” is often studied in departments of philosophy and political science. But what did Locke say in this great work? What about the lesser-known “First Treatise”? And what sorts of things was Locke trying to respond to here? These are the questions that this audiobook examines. They also try to place the “Treatises” into the fascinating context of their times.
They do this, in part, by giving a brief biography of Locke. Among other things, they show that in his earlier years, Locke favored a more conservative position. But John Locke would become a bit more radical later in life. Indeed, among other things, Locke defends a right of revolution against a tyrannical government. This may be part of why he was admired by our Founding Fathers, who rose up in rebellion against King George the Third. After going into Locke’s life story, this audiobook starts to examine the “Two Treatises of Government” themselves, and the arguments that they contain. For example, this audiobook discusses his theory of natural rights, and the need for the consent of the people.
Thomas Jefferson, a fan of John Locke
But first, let me examine the full title of the “Two Treatises of Government.” The full title was “Two Treatises of Government: In the former, the false principles, and foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, and his followers, are detected and overthrown. The latter is an essay concerning the true original, extent, and end of civil government.” The “Second Treatise” is the most famous of these two treatises, but the “First Treatise” is also quite important, as they also make clear here. And, as Locke’s title indicates, the “First Treatise” was a response to “Sir Robert Filmer, and his followers.” Thus, this audiobook briefly examines the arguments of Sir Robert Filmer’s “Patriarcha, or The Natural Power of Kings.” In modern terms, Filmer defended the theory of the “divine right of kings.” This helps you to appreciate the dangers of what Locke was responding to in the “First Treatise.”
Sir Robert Filmer, whom John Locke was responding to
Incidentally, Robert Filmer’s “Patriarcha” received another response from one Algernon Sidney, in his “Discourses Concerning Government” – a book that cost the author his life. In 1683, specifically, Algernon Sidney was actually executed by the English government for treason, for writing this response. (But that’s a subject for another post.) Thus, this audiobook briefly mentions the execution of Algernon Sidney. After this audiobook develops the problematic arguments of Sir Robert Filmer, they then go into John Locke’s excellent response to them in the “First Treatise.” This not only helps you to appreciate the arguments of the “First Treatise,” but those of the more famous “Second Treatise” as well.
Algernon Sidney, who was executed by the English government for treason in 1683
Some have claimed that the “Two Treatises of Government” was trying to justify the status quo. More specifically, they accuse the work of trying to justify a revolution that had already taken place – namely, the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688. As evidence of this, they point to the fact that the “Two Treatises of Government” were first published in 1689 – after the revolution had already happened. But in the twentieth century, the historian Peter Laslett argued that the “Two Treatises of Government” were probably written long before the revolution, and were only published long after they were first written. By so doing, Peter Laslett revised the common chronology of these events. Laslett made it far more plausible that the “Two Treatises of Government” were written before the Glorious Revolution, with arguments that helped to bring this revolution to pass.
John Locke
As the execution of Algernon Sidney shows, Locke may have had good reason to fear the government’s wrath. This may explain why he delayed publication of these “Two Treatises of Government” until 1689, after the revolution had already taken place. And even then, he filed it on his own bookshelves under “Anonymous,” rather than under his own name. After all, Locke was responding to a man (Robert Filmer) whose works were not published until long after his own death. Furthermore, Algernon Sidney’s response would only be published some years after Sidney’s death by execution at the scaffold. Why, then, should we assume that John Locke published his “Two Treatises of Government” soon after he wrote them, when Filmer and Sidney didn’t do so with their respective works? To me, Peter Laslett makes a compelling argument for an earlier writing of the “Treatises,” marshaling some additional evidence for his point of view to make the matter clear.
John Locke
Time does not permit me to examine the arguments of the “Two Treatises of Government” in much detail here. Indeed, I have examined parts of them in other posts, and plan to do so further in still other posts. But suffice it to say that this audiobook gives a great overview of this work, and helps you to appreciate the arguments that it contains. John Locke deserves the praise that he received from the Founding Fathers, and contributed much to the democracy that we live in today. And this audiobook helps you to better appreciate John Locke’s works, and put them into the context of their own times.
If you liked this post, you might also like:
Part of the audiobook series
The Giants of Political Thought
John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government
Others to be covered later
See also the audiobook series
The United States Constitution
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