UNDERSTANDING JOHN LOCKE: The Smart Student's Guide to Second Treatise of Government

UNDERSTANDING JOHN LOCKE: The Smart Student's Guide to Second Treatise of Government

Understanding John Locke is an introduction and guide to one of the most influential books in the history of political philosophy: John Locke's Second Treatise of Government, first published in 1689.

  

Locke's short book was the intellectual inspiration of two revolutions: The Whig revolt against absolute monarchy in 17th century England and almost 100 years later, the revolt of the American colonies against British rule, culminating in the founding of the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, George Mason and James Madison all ranked John Locke as one of the most influential thinkers they consulted during the American revolution and the formation of the liberal constitutional state that emerged from it.

 

In Understanding John Locke, this student guide gives a clear account and exploration of Locke's main theories about the nature and origin of political power, the state of nature, the state of war, the law of nature, the social contract, the origin of private property, the distinction between political, paternal and tyrannical power, the legitimate placing of political power, the separation of legislative and executive power, and the conditions for justifiable revolution. Each chapter ends with a section containing questions for thought and discussion, some of which would serve as the starting point for term papers.

 

The book concludes with a postscript comparing the replies that Locke and his ancient Greek predecessor Plato might give to the central questions of political philosophy. Professor Houlgate's book is not a version of SparkNotes or Cliff Notes, nor is it a lengthy scholarly monograph full of footnotes and incomprehensible technical terms. It is a book for beginning philosophy and political science students who want more than an outline. It is a book for smart students who also want to understand the progression of John Locke's ideas, arguments and methodology.

[This is the second book in the Smart Student's Guides to the Classics of Philosophy series  To learn more about the books in the series, go to my website HoulgateBooks.com, sign up for a free copy of Understanding Philosophy, and see the details for each of the books by clicking on the relevant book cover image.  Digital and print versions of the book are available at low cost at Amazon.com.]