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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page essay that discusses Locke's purpose in writing his Second Treatise on Government. In his preface, Locke expresses his intention to justify the rule of King William and disprove the philosophy of Robert Filmer. In his Second Treatise, Locke succeeds in his purpose, showing that government whose sovereignty derives form the consent of the governed need not lay a foundation for perpetual "Disorder and Mischief, Tumult, Sedition and Rebellion" (Locke, 1998). He achieves this purpose largely through his logical commentary, which distinguishes between a State of Nature (SN) and a State of War (SW). Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khlocke2.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
governments gain their authority from the consent of the governed, and not by divine authority. Prior to Locke, Thomas Hobbes and Robert Filmer (who is mentioned by Locke in his
preface), in their writing, argued vehemently in favor of the divine right of kings, that a monarch could rule as he pleased without answering to the people. To fully
appreciate the position that Locke outlines in his work, it is helpful to place it within an historical context. This work was composed soon after the Glorious Revolution of 1688,
which placed William and Mary of Orange on the English throne. In his preface, Locke expresses his intention to justify the rule of King William and disprove the philosophy of
Robert Filmer. In his Second Treatise, Locke succeeds in his purpose, showing that government whose sovereignty derives form the consent of the governed need not lay a foundation for perpetual
"Disorder and Mischief, Tumult, Sedition and Rebellion" (Locke, 1998). He achieves this purpose largely through his logical commentary, which distinguishes between a State of Nature (SN) and a State of
War (SW). Chapter 2 of the Second Treatise is devoted to examining what Locke means by a "State of Nature." First of all, Locke explains that by SN
he means a state of equality, in which no one person possesses authority over another, and all people are free to live as they please. However, he is careful to
note that liberty does not equate with license to harm others, asserting that natural law is present even in a SN. Each individual has the power to enforce natural law,
which is universal. Locke recognizes that this situation is basically unworkable. "I doubt not but it will be objected that it unreasonable for men to be judges in their own
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