John Locke, Second Treatise on Government

John Locke, like Thomas Hobbes, was an English social contract theorist. He lived from 1632 to 1704, so his life overlapped briefly with that of Hobbes. He is widely considered to be one of the fathers of the Enlightenment period, characterized by the public use of reason and empiricism (as opposed to religion or superstition) to advance knowledge and well-being, both in the scientific and social realms. Locke's influence on the American Revolution was quite profound, as we will discover over the coming weeks. Although he was a physician by training (and an accomplished one in practice), he also made far-reaching contributions to modern philosophy. He is perhaps best known, however, for his works on political philosophy.

You will be reading an excerpt from Locke's Second Treatise of Government, which was first published as the second of two related treatises in 1689. In it, Locke posits a theory of civil government rooted in human nature and the concept of natural rights. As you read the treatise, pay particular attention to his theory of human nature, especially in comparison to Hobbes. You should also keep in mind how this understanding of human nature influences Locke's social contract theory.