THE SECOND

TREATISE OF
GOVERNMENT
1690
THE SECOND TREATISE OF
GOVERNMENT
• Provided positive
theory of government

“he must do this lest men

fall into the dangerous
belief that all
government in the
world is merely the
product of force of
violence”
• Natural rights being granted to
human beings before
government comes into being.
• If people’s conditions are
unsatisfactory then their rights
are transferred to the central
government. (social contract)
• Belongs to radical side.
• Sets out theory of powers in
which he explains powers of
magistrate.
• POLITICAL Powers of
making law as well as
executing it, preservation of
property and employing force.
“ The state of nature has
the law of nature to
govern it, which obliges
everyone and there
cannot be supposed any
such subordination
among us that may
Authorize us to destroy
one another ”
• Defined slavery as absolute,
arbitrary, and despotic power
and is the most miserable
condition of man.
• Rejected slavery and liberty
of society should not be
under legislative powers.
• If a man aggresses against
another, he loses all rights in
the just war may rightly be
enslaved.
• Again argues that a man can
enslave himself because he
may take his own life.
 CRITISISM
• NO GOVERNMENT WITH
REAL POLITICLAL
POWERS.
• EQUALITY IS SUCH THAT
THERE IS NO MUTUAL
LOVE NOR DUTIES OF
PEOPLE.
• POLITCAL POWERS TO
MAKE LAWS AND LESS
PENALTIES OF
REGULATING PROPERTY.
THANKYOU!!!