Title: Two Treatises of Government
Author: John Locke
ISBN: –
Publisher: Classics of Liberty Library, private printing. 1992. Facsimile of the 1698 edition. Extremely scarce.
Condition: Hardcover, leather spine with cloth boards. All edges gilt. With ribbon marker. Other than tiny dings on the edges, like new.
Often considered the foundation of political liberalism, John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government was first published anonymously in 1689, in the wake of England’s Glorious Revolution. In The First Treatise of Government, Locke refutes the idea of divine monarchy, while The Second Treatise of Government articulates Locke’s philosophy of government, which he based upon his theories of natural rights and the social contract. In Locke’s view, governments’ legitimacy is based upon their performance of their proper functions-preservation of the life, liberty, and property rights of their citizens, and protection from those who seek to violate these rights.
One of the most important books in the history of western political philosophy.
Book I: The False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, and his followers, are Detected and Overthrown [The “Divine Right of Kings”]
Chap. 1: The Introduction
Chap. 2: Of Paternal and Regal Power
Chap. 3: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by Creation
Chap. 4: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by Donation
Chap. 5: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by the Subjection of Eve
Chap. 6: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by Fatherhood
Chap. 7: Of Fatherhood and Property, as Fountains of Sovereignty
Chap. 8: Of the Conveyance of Adam’s Sovereign Monarchial Power
Chap. 9: Of Monarchy, by Inheritance from Adam
Chap. 10: Of the Heir to the Monarchial Power of Adam
Chap. 11: Who Heir?
Book II: An Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent and End of Civil Government [The “Second Essay”]
Chap. 1: Of Political Power
Chap. 2: Of the State of Nature
Chap. 3: Of the State of War
Chap. 4: Of Slavery
Chap. 5: Of Property
Chap. 6: Of Paternal Power
Chap. 7: Of Political or Civil Society
Chap. 8: Of the Beginning of Political Societies
Chap. 9: Of the Ends of Political Society and Government
Chap. 10: Of the Forms of a Commonwealth
Chap. 11: Of the Extent of Legislative Power
Chap. 12: Of the Legislative, Executive and Federative Power of the Commonwealth
Chap. 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Commonwealth
Chap. 14: Of Prerogative
Chap. 15: Of Paternal, Political and Despotical Power, considered together
Chap. 16: Of Conquest
Chap. 17: Of Usurpation
Chap. 18: Of Tyranny
Chap. 19: Of the Dissolution of Government