Two Treatises of Government

Two Treatises of Government

In John Locke’s “Two Treatises of Government,” he breaks-down and refutes the argument of rival political philosopher Robert Filmer and establishes the framework for contract theory in civil society and the government. Specifically, in his second treatise, Locke defines the purpose of government as a protection for the “property” of individuals in civil society. He outlines the history of the development of government and illustrates how it revolved completely around property. Property is defined as “life, liberty, and the estate,” meaning it includes the individual self-determination of all synonyms. These could be seen as early elements of Liberalism, where government is seen as a vehicle for the protection of self-determination. In Liberalism, the government’s role in daily life is limited to minimize its interference in the lives of its citizens. The main role of the government is to ensure that all of its citizens have access to self-determination and individualism. In Locke’s treatise, the protection of property serves the same function as the protection of the individual will in Liberalism.

John Locke

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1690

Public Domain