Two Treatises of Civil Government

John Locke (1632 - 1704)

The Two Treatises of Civil Government is a work of political philosophy published anonymously in 1689 by John Locke. The First Treatise is an extended attack on Sir Robert Filmer's Patriarcha, which argued for a divinely-ordained, hereditary, absolute monarchy. The more influential Second Treatise outlines a theory of civil society based on natural rights and contract theory. Locke begins by describing the "state of nature," and goes on to explain the hypothetical rise of property and civilization, asserting that the only legitimate governments are those which have the consent of the people.

Locke's ideas heavily influenced both the American and French Revolutions. His notions of people's rights and the role of civil government provided strong support for the intellectual movements of both revolutions. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia)

Genre(s): Political Science, Early Modern

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 00 - Preface Philippa
00:05:56
Play 01 01 - Book I, Chapter 01 Philippa
00:06:25
Play 02 02 - Book I, Chapter 02: Of Paternal and Regal Power Philippa
00:18:48
Play 03 03 - Book I, Chapter 03: Of Adam's Title to Sovereignty by Creation Philippa
00:12:49
Play 04 04 - Book I, Chapter 04: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty By Donation, Gen. I. 28 Philippa
00:39:11
Play 05 05 - Book I, Chapter 05: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty By the Subjection of Eve Philippa
00:12:32
Play 06 06 - Book I, Chapter 06: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty By Fatherhood Philippa
00:44:43
Play 07 07 - Book I, Chapter 07: Of Fatherhood and Property Considered Together As Fountains of Sovereignty Philippa
00:12:01
Play 08 08 - Book I, Chapter 08: Of the Conveyance of Adam’s Sovereign Monarchical Power Philippa
00:06:07
Play 09 09 - Book I, Chapter 09: Of Monarchy, By Inheritance from Adam Philippa
00:33:27
Play 10 10 - Book I, Chapter 10: Of the Heir to Adam’s Monarchical Power Philippa
00:05:07
Play 11 11 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 1 Philippa
00:23:33
Play 12 12 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 2 Philippa
00:18:38
Play 13 13 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 3 Philippa
00:36:36
Play 14 14 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 4 Philippa
00:32:08
Play 15 15 - Book II, Chapter 01 D.E. Wittkower
00:04:16
Play 16 16 - Book II, Chapter 02: Of the State of Nature D.E. Wittkower
00:21:22
Play 17 17 - Book II, Chapter 03: Of the State of War D.E. Wittkower
00:10:46
Play 18 18 - Book II, Chapter 04: Of Slavery D.E. Wittkower
00:05:07
Play 19 19 - Book II, Chapter 05: Of Property D.E. Wittkower
00:45:17
Play 20 20 - Book II, Chapter 06: Of Paternal Power Anna Simon
00:33:34
Play 21 21 - Book II, Chapter 07: Of Political or Civil Society Nikki Sullivan
00:28:10
Play 22 22 - Book II, Chapter 08: Of the Beginning of Political Societies Anna Simon
00:38:24
Play 23 23 - Book II, Chapter 09: Of the Ends of Political Society and Government Sibella Denton
00:07:18
Play 24 24 - Book II, Chapter 10: Of the Forms of a Common-wealth Sibella Denton
00:02:43
Play 25 25 - Book II, Chapter 11: Of the Extent of the Legislative Power Jc Guan
00:21:27
Play 26 26 - Book II, Chapter 12: Of the Legislative, Executive, and Federative Power of the Common-wealth Ashwin Jain
00:07:08
Play 27 27 - Book II, Chapter 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common-wealth Ashwin Jain
00:22:41
Play 28 28 - Book II, Chapter 14: Of Prerogative Ashwin Jain
00:18:09
Play 29 29 - Book II, Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, Considered Together Sibella Denton
00:07:09
Play 30 30 - Book II, Chapter 16: Of Conquest Sibella Denton
00:25:04
Play 31 31 - Book II, Chapter 17: Of Usurpation Sibella Denton
00:02:21
Play 32 32 - Book II, Chapter 18: Of Tyranny Sibella Denton
00:13:57
Play 33 33 - Book II, Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government Sibella Denton
00:41:11