Locke Reading Questions

A note on reading: Although Two Treatises of Government is important in political theory, we should also think of it as a part of a political battle. Locke did not put his name to it (many things were published anonymously, but Locke made a special point of not acknowledging the Two Treatises until he wrote his will). Sir Robert Filmer, Locke’s opponent, died in 1653, but Filmer’s work was published posthumously in 1680 for use by Locke’s opponents in an important political controversy.

First Treatise (Book I)

Preface & Ch. I, II (§ 6--8); V, VI (§ 50, 52--55, 61--63), VII (73, 75, 77)

1. Locke says in the Preface that some parts of this treatise were lost but that he hopes what’s left will be “sufficient to establish the Throne of our Great Restorer, Our present King William; to make good his Title, in the Consent of the People” (p. 137). Which of Locke’s terms seem to you to be most important here?

2. What kind of slavery does Locke seem to be talking about (Book I, Ch. I)?

3. See if you can locate Locke’s irony (even sarcasm) in the section on “this strange kind of domineering Phantom, called the Fatherhood, which whoever could catch, presently got Empire, and unlimited absolute Power” (Ch. II, §6).

4. Locke calls his opponent “Sir Robert Filmer” (I, §4), Sir R.F. (I, §5), “our Author” (II, §7), “our A” (V, §44), and “our A-----“ (V, §45). What is the effect of Locke’s treatment of Filmer’s name?

5. Arguing against Filmer’s view that “Adam’s title to Sovereignty” rests on “the Subjection of Eve,” Locke says readers only have to read Filmer carefully to see that his claim cannot be supported. Explain Locke’s reasoning here (V, §44). (What is the implication of “Prerogatives and Privileges” and “investing”?)

6. What does Locke gain by emphasizing the word sweat (V, §45)?

7. The Genesis curse on women is two-fold: wives will be subjected to husbands and will endure pain in childbearing. Locke treats this material as if it had descriptive power only and separates it entirely from law and political subjection (V, §47). Similarly, Locke describes God’s saying of Jacob and Esau “That the Elder should serve the Younger” as merely de facto (V, §48). What can you say about Locke’s way of interpreting the Bible here?

8. Why does Locke make a point of separating conjugal power from political power (V, §48)?

9. What are Locke’s basic arguments against basing absolute authority in the father merely because he “begot” or “gave life to” his children (VI, §50, 52-55)?

10. Why does Locke say it’s impossible to base sovereignty in both fatherhood and property? (VII, 73).

11. In VII, §73, 75, 77, Locke uses an almost absurd level of detail about Biblical figures. What do you think he accomplishes here?

Second Treatise (Book II)

Ch. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, XVIII, XIX, Add: Ch. XIII, §149, 156.

12. In Chapter I (§1), Locke summarizes his argument against Filmer. From what you’ve read, is it a good summary? Can you summarize Locke?

13. What is the “State of Nature” according to Locke (II, §4, 5)?

14. Why isn’t the state of nature a state of license (II, §6-7)?

15. What does it mean to say that in the state of nature, “every one has the Executive Power of the Law of Nature” (II, §13)?

16. Do people keep agreements in the state of nature (II, §14)?

17. How is a state of war different from the state of Nature (III, §16-18)?

18. Why do people leave the state of nature and put themselves into society (III, §21)? What terms are central to this move from nature to society?

19. How does Locke explain ownership of property given that he starts with the view that at first God gave all things to all men in common (Ch. V, § 25 ff.)? For that matter, what does Locke mean by property (Ch. V; see also Ch. VII, §87)?

20. What does Locke seem to mean by “Common” and “Commons” (Ch. V)?

21. “Thus in the beginning all the World was America” (II, V, §49): What does this mean?

22. Why do children not share in the full state of Equality (Bk. II, Ch. VI, §55, 57, 58)? Since this seems so obvious, why do you think Locke goes into it? What point does he make in §59? The son’s freedom is like the father’s. Is this a matter of inheritance or principle? See also the sections immediately following.

23. Given the basic equality of parents as parents, what accounts for the inequality of husband and wife? (See Bk. II, Ch. VII, §82).

24. What does master of a family mean? (See Bk. II, Ch. VII, §86).

25. What does tacit consent mean (VIII, §119).

26. What’s wrong with the state of nature (IX, §124-127)?

27. See Ch. XV for a quick review of “paternal,” “political,” and “despotical” power.

28. What’s the difference between usurped power and tyrannical power (XVIII, §199).

29. Under what conditions may a prince be opposed (XVIII, §202-3; see the rest of these sections as well)?

30. How does Locke defend himself from the charge that his “hypothesis” in Ch. XIX “lays a ferment for frequent Rebellion” (§224)?