Two Treatises of Civil Government

Published anonymously in 1689, John Lockes Two Treatises of Civil Government is a seminal work of political philosophy that challenges the foundations of absolute monarchy. In the First Treatise, Locke launches a robust critique of Sir Robert Filmers Patriarcha, which defends the idea of a divinely-sanctioned, hereditary rule. However, it is the Second Treatise that has left a lasting impact, articulating a vision of civil society grounded in natural rights and contract theory. Locke explores the state of nature and the emergence of property and civilization, ultimately asserting that true government must derive its authority from the consent of the governed. His revolutionary ideas significantly shaped the American and French Revolutions, providing a powerful intellectual framework for the rights of individuals and the purpose of government. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia)