Two Treatises of Government · Chapter
Of the Beginning of Political Societies explained
Locke argues that political societies originate from the voluntary consent of free, equal, and independent individuals who agree to unite into a community.
What happens
Locke argues that political societies originate from the voluntary consent of free, equal, and independent individuals who agree to unite into a community. This consent creates a body politic where the majority has the right to act for the whole. He defends this theory against objections that no historical examples exist and that all men are born under government, citing instances from Rome, Venice, and America. Locke also explains why early governments were often monarchical, attributing it to familiarity with paternal rule and the simplicity of early societies, not to any natural paternal authority.
Themes in this chapter
Consent of the Governed
Central to the chapter: Locke asserts that all legitimate political power originates from the consent of free individuals to unite into a community.
State of Nature and Social Contract
Locke describes the transition from the state of nature to civil society through a social compact, where individuals agree to form a body politic.
Limited Government and Rule of Law
Locke emphasizes that early governments were limited, with rulers having little dominion in peacetime and decisions often made by the people or a council.
Critique of Patriarchalism and Divine Right
Locke argues that the origin of political society is not paternal authority, but consent, countering Filmer's patriarchal theory.
Characters to notice
- Sir Robert Filmer
Locke implicitly refutes Filmer's patriarchal theory by arguing that political societies begin by consent, not by paternal dominion.
- Joshua
Mentioned as an example of early leadership in Israel, where judges and first kings were primarily military leaders.
- Samuel
Referenced in the context of Israel's early judges and kings, whose authority was not absolute but limited.
- Moses
Implied in the discussion of Israel's early government, where God directly interposed, contrasting with paternal dominion.
Key passages
“Men being, as has been said, by nature, all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent.”
Since all people are naturally free, equal, and independent, no one can be removed from this state and placed under another's political authority unless they personally agree to it.
Locke's foundational principle for the consent-based origin of political societies.
“The only way, whereby anyone divests himself of his natural liberty, and puts on the bonds of civil society, is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community, for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another, in a secure enjoyment of their properties, and a greater security against any, that are not of it.”
The sole method for someone to give up their natural freedom and enter civil society is by consenting to join with others in a community, aiming for a comfortable, safe, and peaceful life with secure property rights and protection from outsiders.
Locke describes the social contract as a voluntary act for mutual benefit and security.
“And thus that, which begins and actually constitutes any political society, is nothing, but the consent of any number of freemen capable of a majority, to unite and incorporate into such a society.”
Thus, the origin and foundation of any political society is simply the agreement of a group of free individuals, who are able to form a majority, to unite and become one body.
Locke's core thesis that political society is formed by the consent of free individuals.
