Customer Reviews

The Second Treatise of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration (Dover Thrift Editions)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Locke (1632-1704) wrote "Second Treatise of Government" in 1690, it was the main political philosophical source that our "Founding Fathers" went to in writing the "Declaration of Independence" and in forming our government. I think you should know something of Locke to understand what influenced his thinking. His father was a small landowner, attorney, Puritan and his political sympathies were with the Cromwell Parliament. Like Hobbes, Locke attended Oxford Univ. and did not think much about the curriculum or his professors. Most of his education came from reading books in the Univ. library. Renee Descartes and Sir Isaac Newton's writings greatly influenced Locke. Like Hobbes, he took a tutoring job teaching the son of the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and traveled Europe. His friendship with the Earl was beneficial in obtaining government appointments. During the political unrest in England, (1679-83) he fled to Holland because his liberal notions put him at odds with the government.

Locke writes the "Second Treatise of Government" to justify the Revolt of 1688 and the ascension of William of Orange to the English throne. The book argues against two lines of absolutist ideas. The first is Sir Robert Filmer's "patriarchal theory of divine right of kings; secondly, Hobbes argument for the sovereign's absolute power in his book "Leviathan." Locke argues that government emanates from the people. Locke's treatise rests like other political writings on its interpretation of human nature. He sees our nature opposite the way Hobbes did, decent and not as selfish or competitive. Man is more inclined to join society through reason and not fear. Man prefers stability to change.

His very important contribution to "law of nature" theory was his bias toward individualism. In state of nature, before government, men were free independent, equal enjoying inalienable rights "chief among them being life, liberty, and property." Where have you read that before? Property rights receive much attention in this treatise. Locke argues that government based on consent of man can still preserve freedom independence and equality.

His political writing had immediate influence in the world and influenced our founding fathers in their struggle against tyranny. He is an excellent writer and his theories are easy to understand by the laymen. As a graduate student of political philosophy, I recommend if you have an interest in politics, philosophy, or government then you must read Locke's "Second Treatise of Government"

Very good book if you need it for a college class or just learn about the law of nature. It is recycled and Eco-friendly!

A short must read for anyone desiring to know what was bouncing around in the founding father's heads during the American revolution, and what philosophies inspired them to write the founding documents. So inexpensive, it can sit on your bookshelf while you read all of the writings we as Americans live by, which this book helped inspire. };>{>

Human freedom espoused with forceful reasoning. Even though the work starts with religious presuppositions the arguments are just as valid for those espousing no religious viewpoint. This is a classic exposition of the cause of human freedom and should be read by all who value the ideals of the enlightenment and the right of all men to determine by popular approval their form of government.
Most notably, Locke states that religious associations exist by the voluntary assent of their members. A radical idea for the time.

John Locke (1632-1704) wrote "Second Treatise of Government" in 1690, it was the main political philosophical source that our "Founding Fathers" went to in writing the "Declaration of Independence" and in forming our government. I think you should know something of Locke to understand what influenced his thinking. His father was a small landowner, attorney, Puritan and his political sympathies were with the Cromwell Parliament. Like Hobbes, Locke attended Oxford Univ. and did not think much about the curriculum or his professors. Most of his education came from reading books in the Univ. library. Renee Descartes and Sir Isaac Newton's writings greatly influenced Locke. Like Hobbes, he took a tutoring job teaching the son of the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and traveled Europe. His friendship with the Earl was beneficial in obtaining government appointments. During the political unrest in England, (1679-83) he fled to Holland because his liberal notions put him at odds with the government.

Locke writes the "Second Treatise of Government" to justify the Revolt of 1688 and the ascension of William of Orange to the English throne. The book argues against two lines of absolutist ideas. The first is Sir Robert Filmer's "patriarchal theory of divine right of kings; secondly, Hobbes argument for the sovereign's absolute power in his book "Leviathan." Locke argues that government emanates from the people. Locke's treatise rests like other political writings on its interpretation of human nature. He sees our nature opposite the way Hobbes did, decent and not as selfish or competitive. Man is more inclined to join society through reason and not fear. Man prefers stability to change.

His very important contribution to "law of nature" theory was his bias toward individualism. In state of nature, before government, men were free independent, equal enjoying inalienable rights "chief among them being life, liberty, and property." Where have you read that before? Property rights receive much attention in this treatise. Locke argues that government based on consent of man can still preserve freedom independence and equality.

His political writing had immediate influence in the world and influenced our founding fathers in their struggle against tyranny. He is an excellent writer and his theories are easy to understand by the laymen. As a graduate student of political philosophy, I recommend if you have an interest in politics, philosophy, or government then you must read Locke's "Second Treatise of Government"

I am heavily involved in genealogy and have added this book to my library. I have acquired books on my descendant's ancestor's descendants to include John and Priscilla Alden, both Presidents Adams, President Calvin Coolidge,President George Washington and Patriot Patrick Henry, who as a side note, married the cousin of President Washington's wife. Also, I have ordered one book, and I plan to order others on another distant cousin, John Locke, whose writings inspired the authors of our US Constitution to include the phrase - "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness".

Additionally I have also acquired books regarding the Borden and Cooke families, whose descendants include the Prime Ministers of Canada during WW1 and WW2.

I find Amazon to be my prime source for all pertinent genealogically relevant books and I recommend Amazon,in all respects unconditionally. Thank you. Gayle

The book arrived quicker than I expected, and in excellent condition. Very good service. It is important for my collection, and necessary to a grass-roots effort I'm involved in with others in Jackson County, AL-- the goal of cleaning out corruption in local government. Today Jackson County, tomorrow the State of Alabama, then on to Washington, D.C. When all that is cleaned up, I will have been in Heaven a long time, but my grandchildren may be able to live free!