What do you think?
Rate this book
Locke: Political Writings
John Locke's Second Treatise of Government (c. 1681) is perhaps the key founding liberal text. A Letter Concerning Toleration, written in 1685 (a year when a Catholic monarch came to the throne of England and Louis XIV unleashed a reign of terror against Protestants in France), is a classic defense of religious freedom. Yet many of Locke's other writings, not least the Constitutions of Carolina, which he helped draft are almost defiantly anti-liberal in outlook.
This comprehensive collection brings together the main published works (excluding polemical attacks on other people's views) with the most important surviving evidence from among Locke's papers relating to his political philosophy. David Wootton's wide-ranging and scholarly introduction sets the writings in the context of their time, examines Locke's developing ideas and unorthodox Christianity, and analyzes his main arguments. The result is the first fully rounded picture of Locke's political thought in his own words.
This comprehensive collection brings together the main published works (excluding polemical attacks on other people's views) with the most important surviving evidence from among Locke's papers relating to his political philosophy. David Wootton's wide-ranging and scholarly introduction sets the writings in the context of their time, examines Locke's developing ideas and unorthodox Christianity, and analyzes his main arguments. The result is the first fully rounded picture of Locke's political thought in his own words.
488 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
John Locke
1,651 books1,310 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
John Locke was an English philosopher. He is considered the first of the British Empiricists, but is equally important to social contract theory. His ideas had enormous influence on the development of epistemology and political philosophy, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers and contributors to liberal theory. His writings influenced Voltaire and Rousseau, many Scottish Enlightenment thinkers, as well as the American revolutionaries. This influence is reflected in the American Declaration of Independence.
Locke's theory of mind is often cited as the origin for modern conceptions of identity and "the self", figuring prominently in the later works of philosophers such as David Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant. Locke was the first Western philosopher to define the self through a continuity of "consciousness." He also postulated that the mind was a "blank slate" or "tabula rasa"; that is, contrary to Cartesian or Christian philosophy, Locke maintained that people are born without innate ideas.
John Locke was an English philosopher. He is considered the first of the British Empiricists, but is equally important to social contract theory. His ideas had enormous influence on the development of epistemology and political philosophy, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers and contributors to liberal theory. His writings influenced Voltaire and Rousseau, many Scottish Enlightenment thinkers, as well as the American revolutionaries. This influence is reflected in the American Declaration of Independence.
Locke's theory of mind is often cited as the origin for modern conceptions of identity and "the self", figuring prominently in the later works of philosophers such as David Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant. Locke was the first Western philosopher to define the self through a continuity of "consciousness." He also postulated that the mind was a "blank slate" or "tabula rasa"; that is, contrary to Cartesian or Christian philosophy, Locke maintained that people are born without innate ideas.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 20, 2021
This is as good a collection of Locke's most historically valuable works as you're likely to find. I rate it highly less because I am enamored with Locke's writing - let's face it, no one is coming to this volume for the electrifying prose - but more because it's most of what you want in one place. It also has the very good benefit of a long and useful introduction (the first hundred pages or so of this text is an extended essay from the editor) placing Locke in historical context and teasing out the importance of these writings.
For those wishing to brush up on classical political theory, this book is very helpful. It includes the full Second Treatise on Government, the constitution of the Carolinas, and selections from many other pieces of Locke's output. None of it is easy reading, and modern readers are not going to 'agree' with Locke in a normal sense, but for those reviewing the classics, this volume is convenient and affordable.
For those wishing to brush up on classical political theory, this book is very helpful. It includes the full Second Treatise on Government, the constitution of the Carolinas, and selections from many other pieces of Locke's output. None of it is easy reading, and modern readers are not going to 'agree' with Locke in a normal sense, but for those reviewing the classics, this volume is convenient and affordable.
January 10, 2010
Not enough people in the US even understand the theory underlying private property. This book will fill that educational gap to some degree.
January 8, 2017
John Locke was the father of Classical Liberalism, closer today to libertarianism than anything else. This contains his best known works and some of his letters. Includes The Second Treatise of Government, The Letter Concerning Toleration, and the Constitution of the Carolina Colony. The first 100 pages are a history lesson placing his works in context.
The historical preface sets the stage for Locke's works. He lived through the English Civil War, the protestant reign of Charles II, the Catholic reign of James II, and the seizing of the Crown by William of Orange (William and Mary). He worked in the protestant government and was forced into exile by the Catholics. He returned with the success of William III.
It's interesting to see the different writings over time and his evolution of thought. At first a strict monarchist he later moved to limited government, although he was always a monarchist and had total disdain for democracy. As a government employee writing potentially treasonous work he wrote much of his stuff under a pseudonym. So you have a man preaching limited government also writing the Carolina Constitution which established a landed nobility ruling over a legal serfdom. The only really consistency was his stance on religious tolerance, always in favor of tolerance and separation of church and state.
Locke spent an inordinate amount of time disputing the writings of Sir Robert Filmer, who had written a famous treatise espousing absolute monarchy based upon the fact that God had given Adam dominion over all men, so his descendants should have the same ability to rule uncontested. Locke focused heavily on this because he disagreed on many levels and because at the time many members of the Church were preaching Filmer's ideology to the masses.
Locke is rightly credited with being a founding philosopher concerning religious tolerance, and his views on limited government are best taken in context of his times, not so much the current times as he wrote much on how the government was only legitimate if supported by the people but he still believed it should be led by a strong monarch, preferably hereditary.
The historical preface sets the stage for Locke's works. He lived through the English Civil War, the protestant reign of Charles II, the Catholic reign of James II, and the seizing of the Crown by William of Orange (William and Mary). He worked in the protestant government and was forced into exile by the Catholics. He returned with the success of William III.
It's interesting to see the different writings over time and his evolution of thought. At first a strict monarchist he later moved to limited government, although he was always a monarchist and had total disdain for democracy. As a government employee writing potentially treasonous work he wrote much of his stuff under a pseudonym. So you have a man preaching limited government also writing the Carolina Constitution which established a landed nobility ruling over a legal serfdom. The only really consistency was his stance on religious tolerance, always in favor of tolerance and separation of church and state.
Locke spent an inordinate amount of time disputing the writings of Sir Robert Filmer, who had written a famous treatise espousing absolute monarchy based upon the fact that God had given Adam dominion over all men, so his descendants should have the same ability to rule uncontested. Locke focused heavily on this because he disagreed on many levels and because at the time many members of the Church were preaching Filmer's ideology to the masses.
Locke is rightly credited with being a founding philosopher concerning religious tolerance, and his views on limited government are best taken in context of his times, not so much the current times as he wrote much on how the government was only legitimate if supported by the people but he still believed it should be led by a strong monarch, preferably hereditary.
October 4, 2018
I give this book only three stars for several reasons:
1. I read this book for school, meaning that I had several meaningful discussions and seminars about Locke's philosophy and how it relates both to history and current affairs. These discussions were probably the only interesting part about reading Locke.
2. While Locke is a good author and brings up many, many interesting and thought-provoking points, his writing is EXTREMELY dry and hard to willingly get through. If I were reading this for pleasure, I would have definitely given up.
3. I didn't actually read the whole book. I mostly read from his Second Treatise of Government. Thus, he deserves a higher rating simply for the fact that he has written so much that can be discussed today and is still relevant to a point.
1. I read this book for school, meaning that I had several meaningful discussions and seminars about Locke's philosophy and how it relates both to history and current affairs. These discussions were probably the only interesting part about reading Locke.
2. While Locke is a good author and brings up many, many interesting and thought-provoking points, his writing is EXTREMELY dry and hard to willingly get through. If I were reading this for pleasure, I would have definitely given up.
3. I didn't actually read the whole book. I mostly read from his Second Treatise of Government. Thus, he deserves a higher rating simply for the fact that he has written so much that can be discussed today and is still relevant to a point.
July 27, 2024
Reading up on Lockes refutation of Filmer: his first treatise. Though more importantly looking at Woottons view on this vast subject, his opinions and interpretations of the nuances or otherwise. Wootton for me has always been among the first rank of intellectual historians. I also did not know he edited Marlowes Faust, something I only discovered looking for this collection. Dropped my ring in the lake went swimming for it and found gold too! Feel like Marlin when he found Nemo. I once knew a Faust, and I will soon know him again.
July 1, 2021
Very quotable, even if much of what he says I disagree with. Still, he is the foundation for much of America's thoughts on property and government rights (Life, Liberty & Property) and so I set out to read his words. He is logical and eloquent even when I believe him to be wrong (such as much of the letters). Still, interesting read of political philosophy and much more entertaining than Hobbes.
December 7, 2017
Although I have fundamental issues with Locke's extension of the covenant to almost every aspect of life, I found his political rebellion theory to be fascinating. Locke is tremendously sarcastic which was a very fun surprise.
April 16, 2022
another horrible piece of literature. so classist, racist and colonialist. didn’t understand a thing he said as it was again, all about the Christian church. If you want to read Western philosophy, you have to have a thorough understanding of Christianity.
Read
August 12, 2020259-340
270
364-366
270
364-366
Read
April 15, 2021This is not the right cover
May 30, 2022
Thoughtful reading.
Read
December 7, 2023Most of the Second Treatise of Government
Kinda annoying but so clearly fundamental in American History
Kinda annoying but so clearly fundamental in American History
December 14, 2014
Read Second Treatise on Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration for a university course. The Hackett edition is very well produced and curated, and Wooton's introduction is a lovely introduction to both the expressly political texts and Locke's writing on religious toleration. For anyone looking for a compendium of Locke's work, this edition is strong on both context and primary source documents.
Read
January 9, 2008I can only do John Lock on a very limited basis. I'll have to pick this up in a month or two.
July 26, 2008
Excellent! Describes the social contract, civil society, toleration, and the true foundations of government and democracy.
March 20, 2012
One of the few philosophy books that was actually a joy to read in college.
December 18, 2016
Gotta love Locke.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews