Second Treatise of Government and a Letter Concerning Toleration - Softcover

Locke, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1495323358 ISBN 13: 9781495323355

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014

Synopsis

“Men being… 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.” — John Locke

A foundational voice of classical liberalism and modern democracy, John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration remain cornerstones of Western political thought. These profound essays laid the intellectual groundwork for constitutional governance, civil liberties, and religious freedom.

In the Second Treatise, Locke dismantles the theory of the divine right of kings and instead argues for a government based on natural rights, the social contract, and the consent of the governed. He explores key concepts such as:

• The state of nature and natural law

• The right to private property

• The duty to revolt against tyranny

• The separation of legislative and executive powers

Locke’s Letter Concerning Toleration complements this political framework by defending religious liberty and promoting the idea that the state has no authority over the soul. His message is as relevant today as it was in the 17th century: a free society depends on the protection of conscience.

These two works are not only essential for students of philosophy, history, and political science—they are must-reads for anyone who wants to understand the roots of freedom and the structure of just government.

Required reading for understanding democracy, the rule of law, and religious liberty.

About this title

About the Author

John Locke (1632-1704), widely known as the Father of Classical Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social contract theory. His work greatly affected the development of epistemology and political philosophy. His writings influenced Voltaire and Rousseau, many Scottish Enlightenment thinkers, as well as the American revolutionaries. His contributions to classical republicanism and liberal theory are reflected in the United States Declaration of Independence.

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1495323358
• ISBN 13: 9781495323355
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 158