# Of Political or Civil Society explained — Two Treatises of Government

> Chapter companion for Two Treatises of Government by John Locke.

## What happens

Locke distinguishes political society from other forms of human association—conjugal, parental, and master-servant—by emphasizing that civil society is founded on consent and the establishment of a common legislature and judiciary. He argues that absolute monarchy is inconsistent with civil society because it leaves subjects without an appeal against the ruler, effectively keeping them in a state of nature. Locke traces the origin of government to the need to secure property, and he insists that no one in civil society can be exempt from its laws.

## Themes in this chapter

### Consent of the Governed

Locke emphasizes that civil society arises from voluntary compact and that all members, including the legislature, are subject to laws they have consented to.

### Limited Government and Rule of Law

Locke argues that in civil society, no one is exempt from the law, and the legislature must be a collective body to prevent arbitrary rule.

### Property and Labor

Locke states that the preservation of property is the end of government, and that insecurity of property drove people to establish civil society.

### State of Nature and Social Contract

Locke contrasts the state of nature with civil society, noting that absolute monarchy leaves subjects in a state of nature regarding the ruler.

## Character check-ins

### Sir Robert Filmer

Locke implicitly critiques Filmer's patriarchal arguments by contrasting absolute monarchy with genuine civil society.

## Key lines

> God having made man such a creature, that in his own judgment, it was not good for him to be alone, put him under strong obligations of necessity, convenience, and inclination, to drive him into society, as well as fitted him with understanding and language to continue and enjoy it.

God designed humans to need society, giving them reason and speech to form and sustain it.

_Locke grounds human sociability in divine design, setting the stage for his analysis of different forms of society._

> Conjugal society is made by a voluntary compact between man and woman; and though it consist chiefly in such a communion and right in one another’s bodies as is necessary to its chief end, procreation; yet it draws with it mutual support and assistance, and a communion of interests too, as necessary not only to unite their care and affection, but also necessary to their common offspring, who have a right to be nourished and maintained by them, till they are able to provide for themselves.

Marriage is a voluntary agreement focused on procreation, but it also involves mutual support and shared interests for the sake of raising children.

_Locke defines conjugal society as a compact with natural duties toward offspring, distinct from political society._

> No man in civil society can be exempted from the laws of it: for if any man may do what he thinks fit, and there be no appeal on earth, for redress or security against any harm he shall do; I ask, whether he be not perfectly still in the state of nature, and so can be no part or member of that civil society.

No one in civil society is above the law; if a person has no earthly appeal against harm they cause, they remain in the state of nature and are not part of civil society.

_Locke insists that equality before the law is essential to civil society, directly challenging absolute monarchy._

> For he that thinks absolute power purifies men’s blood, and corrects the baseness of human nature, need read but the history of this or any other age, to be convinced of the contrary.

Anyone who believes absolute power makes people virtuous should look at history to see the opposite.

_Locke rejects the idea that absolute monarchy improves rulers, using historical evidence to argue against Filmer's claims._

> This is to think, that men are so foolish, that they take care to avoid what mischiefs may be done them by polecats, or foxes; but are content, nay think it safety, to be devoured by lions.

It is absurd for people to guard against petty thieves while willingly submitting to a tyrant who can destroy them.

_Locke uses a vivid metaphor to criticize those who accept absolute monarchy as a form of protection._

## Links

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