Second Treatise of Government by John Locke

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Second Treatise of Government by John Locke

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By Jacob Brown Posted on Jan 13, 2026

In Category - Space Opera

Authors: Locke, John, 1632-1704 Published By : Locke, John, 1632-1704

Book Language: English

Ever wonder why we have governments in the first place? John Locke's 'Second Treatise' isn't just old political theory—it's a revolutionary argument that changed the world. Forget the idea that kings rule by divine right. Locke makes a bold claim: government exists because we, the people, agree to it. We trade a bit of our freedom for protection and order. But here's the catch: if that government stops protecting us and starts hurting us, we have the right to replace it. This book is the original blueprint for democracy. It's the quiet, logical argument that gave people permission to think, 'Maybe we don't have to put up with this.' It inspired America's founders and still asks the urgent question: what makes power legitimate, and when is it okay to say 'no'?

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1690 Locke text is included. The 1690 edition text is free of copyright. * * * * * TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT BY IOHN LOCKE SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX ESTO LONDON PRINTED MDCLXXXVIII REPRINTED, THE SIXTH TIME, BY A. MILLAR, H. WOODFALL, 1. WHISTON AND B. WHITE, 1. RIVINGTON, L. DAVIS AND C. REYMERS, R. BALDWIN, HAWES CLARKE AND COLLINS; W. IOHNSTON, W. OWEN, 1. RICHARDSON, S. CROWDER, T. LONGMAN, B. LAW, C. RIVINGTON, E. DILLY, R. WITHY, C. AND R. WARE, S. BAKER, T. PAYNE, A. SHUCKBURGH, 1. HINXMAN MDCCLXIII 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. 1764 EDITOR’S NOTE The present Edition of this Book has not only been collated with the first three Editions, which were published during the Author’s Life, but also has the Advantage of his last Corrections and Improvements, from a Copy delivered by him to Mr. Peter Coste, communicated to the Editor, and now lodged in Christ College, Cambridge. PREFACE Reader, thou hast here the beginning and end of a discourse concerning government; what fate has otherwise disposed of the papers that should have filled up the middle, and were more than all the rest, it is not worth while to tell thee. These, which remain, I hope are sufficient to establish the throne of our great restorer, our present King William; to make good his title, in the consent of the people, which being the only one of all lawful governments, he has more fully and clearly, than any prince in Christendom; and to justify to the world the people of England, whose love of their just and natural rights, with their resolution to preserve them, saved the nation when it was on the very brink of slavery and ruin. If these papers have that evidence, I flatter myself is to be found in them, there will be no great miss of those which are lost, and my reader may be satisfied without them: for I imagine, I shall have neither the time, nor inclination to repeat my pains, and fill up the wanting part of my answer, by tracing Sir Robert again, through all the windings and obscurities, which are to be met with in the several branches of his wonderful system. The king, and body of the nation, have since so thoroughly confuted his Hypothesis, that I suppose no body hereafter will have either the confidence to appear against our common safety, and be again an advocate for slavery; or the weakness to be deceived with contradictions dressed up in a popular stile, and well-turned periods: for if any one will be at the pains, himself, in those parts, which are here untouched, to strip Sir Robert’s discourses of the flourish of doubtful expressions, and endeavour to reduce his words to direct, positive, intelligible propositions, and then compare them one with another, he will quickly be satisfied, there was never so much glib nonsense put together in well-sounding English. If he think it not worth while to examine his works all thro’, let him make an experiment in that part, where he treats of usurpation; and let him try, whether he can, with all his skill, make Sir Robert intelligible, and consistent with himself, or common sense. I should not speak so plainly of a gentleman, long since past answering, had not the pulpit, of late years, publicly owned his doctrine, and made it the current divinity of the...

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Let's be clear: this isn't a novel with a plot. There's no main character, unless you count 'Society' itself. The 'story' here is the story of an idea. John Locke starts with a simple, almost radical thought experiment: imagine a world before governments existed. He calls this the 'state of nature.' In this world, people are free and equal, but life is risky. To solve this, people make a deal. They agree to form a community and set up a government. But this government has one job: to protect people's lives, freedom, and property.

The Story

The book builds this idea step by step. First, Locke argues that no person is born to rule over another. Power isn't a family heirloom for kings. Then, he explains the social contract—the unspoken agreement where we give up some personal freedom to live in a safe, organized society. The most dramatic part comes when he asks: what if the government breaks the contract? What if it becomes a tyrant? Locke's answer was shocking for his time: the people have a right to resist. They can, and should, overthrow a government that has turned against them. The entire 'plot' is the journey from natural freedom to civil society, with the constant threat of power corrupting the whole project.

Why You Should Read It

Reading Locke feels like getting a backstage pass to modern democracy. You see where phrases like 'life, liberty, and property' (later tweaked to 'the pursuit of happiness') came from. It's not always an easy read—the language is from the 1600s—but the ideas are incredibly clear and powerful. It’s thrilling to trace a line from this book to the American Revolution and the constitutions that followed. It makes you realize that the freedoms we often take for granted were once dangerous, brilliant arguments on a page.

Final Verdict

This book is for the curious. It's for anyone who has ever questioned authority, wondered about the limits of power, or wanted to understand the philosophical roots of their own government. It's perfect for history buffs, political science students, or just a regular reader who wants to know why our world is organized the way it is. Don't expect a light beach read, but do expect to have your mind stretched. You'll finish it seeing the news—and your own role as a citizen—in a completely new light.

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