The Second Treatise of Government (1690)

Locke states one of the building blocks of the concept of individual rights, that finally civil government exists because of an implied agreement to create a structure to control both the right of property, and the right of self preservation. When these rights are in conflict, it seems to him that the right of self preservation should prevail over the right to property. The rest of the essay is in defence of this principle against the idea that the rights of property are paramount in society. The essay was originally published in 1690, and was to some degree giving the reasons for the expulsion of James II from British government. ( )

When you examine the "axioms" of his doctrine, it is very difficult to take his posterior developments very seriously as political theory. What if access to land is limited? ( )

We are born Free, as we are born Rational.

An inspiring (if somewhat unsound) foundational text in political philosophy. ( )

John Locke was an incredibly influential writer and thinker. But his writing is dense and outdated, so hard to sift through, and it's all a little redundant now. I love old theory writings but this one didn't really jump off the page at me, and plus Locke was super racist when it came to indigenous Americans. His beliefs are basically structured around keeping property in the hands of the elite so long as they seek to "better the collective stock of mankind", which seems very in line with some of America's greatest problems.

But, of course, life liberty and property. Natural rights. All that stuff. So he has his moments too. ( )

It has equal parts of great and cringe worthy moments ( )