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Two Treatises of Civil Government

by John LOCKE (1632 - 1704)

07 - Book I, Chapter 07: Of Fatherhood and Property Considered Together As Fountains of Sovereignty

The Two Treatises of Civil Government is a work of political philosophy published anonymously in 1689 by John Locke. The First Treatise is an extended attack on Sir Robert Filmer's Patriarcha, which argued for a divinely-ordained, hereditary, absolute monarchy. The more influential Second Treatise outlines a theory of civil society based on natural rights and contract theory. Locke begins by describing the "state of nature," and goes on to explain the hypothetical rise of property and civilization, asserting that the only legitimate governments are those which have the consent of the people.Locke's ideas heavily influenced both the American and French Revolutions. His notions of people's rights and the role of civil government provided strong support for the intellectual movements of both revolutions. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia)

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Listen next episodes of Two Treatises of Civil Government:
08 - Book I, Chapter 08: Of the Conveyance of Adam’s Sovereign Monarchical Power , 09 - Book I, Chapter 09: Of Monarchy, By Inheritance from Adam , 10 - Book I, Chapter 10: Of the Heir to Adam’s Monarchical Power , 11 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 1 , 12 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 2 , 13 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 3 , 14 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 4 , 15 - Book II, Chapter 01 , 16 - Book II, Chapter 02: Of the State of Nature , 17 - Book II, Chapter 03: Of the State of War , 18 - Book II, Chapter 04: Of Slavery , 19 - Book II, Chapter 05: Of Property , 20 - Book II, Chapter 06: Of Paternal Power , 21 - Book II, Chapter 07: Of Political or Civil Society , 22 - Book II, Chapter 08: Of the Beginning of Political Societies , 23 - Book II, Chapter 09: Of the Ends of Political Society and Government , 24 - Book II, Chapter 10: Of the Forms of a Common-wealth , 25 - Book II, Chapter 11: Of the Extent of the Legislative Power , 26 - Book II, Chapter 12: Of the Legislative, Executive, and Federative Power of the Common-wealth , 27 - Book II, Chapter 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common-wealth , 28 - Book II, Chapter 14: Of Prerogative , 29 - Book II, Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, Considered Together , 30 - Book II, Chapter 16: Of Conquest , 31 - Book II, Chapter 17: Of Usurpation , 32 - Book II, Chapter 18: Of Tyranny , 33 - Book II, Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government