John Locke's Two Treatises Of Government

In this essay I shall briefly explain the ideas introduced by John Locke in Two Treatises of Government and explain how those fit in the liberal perception of politics. I aim to structure this essay thematically by giving each of the concepts listed below a definition and also to show how each of those support my thesis that John Locke is indeed a Liberal. I am going to focus private property and individual liberty and also acknowledge the importance Locke gives to religion and the role of God within the system he proposes and sees to be the only solution to the political unrest in England at the time. I shall conclude this essay by recognising John Locke’s importance and relevance to contemporary politics and his impact on modern liberalism.

The concept of stable legislature is very important to Locke because he argues that if it does not exist as a single entity, the executive will have too much power and the interests of the governing and the governed will clash. He believes that legislature would minimise the possibility of rebellion among the masses as it gives them the opportunity to change or completely wipe out the existing government and laws and set it according to their needs (Zuckert, 2002). For Locke, freedom could only exist under the law and if the executive and the legislature are different bodies but work in a mutual manner, then protection and stability are inevitable (Uzgalis, 2001). However, Locke also argues that the legislature must not work at all times but only when it’s needed: this meaning no new laws to be constantly created but individuals to turn to the legislature only when their rights are violated by the executive. By setting the rights for individuals to oppose the government, Locke remains liberal in his views that humankind should remain free from

He begins to do this by criticising Filmer’s argument that only an absolute monarch sent from God has the right of individual property. He instead argues that God has given the Earth to humankind to posses but also acknowledges the concern that if that is true, then is it possible individuals to divide this common property. Thus individual property comes to exist as Locke says that each person owns his own body and the labour that he performs. He then says that one objects becomes one’s property if they implement effort upon it. However, Locke argues that in order to sustain a peaceful and stable society, one must only acquire property reciprocative of his labour(Grant, 1991). For example, one man can only possess as much land as he is able to look after without giving any of it to waste: therefore one cannot take more than he himself can use. If one does this then he violates others’ rights to preserve themselves (Arneson, 1991). This shows that Locke is a liberal because he acknowledges the importance of individual choice and freedom to attain property which is one of the fundamental premises underlying the concept of