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Swanson Questions On Locke's Second Treatise of Government, Preface and Chapters I-IV

Locke's purpose in writing the Second Treatise is to argue that government is legitimate only with the consent of the governed and that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. He defines political power as the right to make laws and enforce them through punishment. According to Locke, all human beings are born equal in their freedom and ability to reason, which teaches us to be tolerant of others without harming their life or property. Government is necessary to protect natural rights and resolve conflicts that arise in the state of nature.

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39 views1 page

Swanson Questions On Locke's Second Treatise of Government, Preface and Chapters I-IV

Locke's purpose in writing the Second Treatise is to argue that government is legitimate only with the consent of the governed and that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. He defines political power as the right to make laws and enforce them through punishment. According to Locke, all human beings are born equal in their freedom and ability to reason, which teaches us to be tolerant of others without harming their life or property. Government is necessary to protect natural rights and resolve conflicts that arise in the state of nature.

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rohanfreak
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Swanson

Questions on Locke's Second Treatise of Government, Preface and Chapters I-IV:

1. According to the preface and chapter 1, what is Locke's purpose in writing this treatise?

2. What is Locke's definition of political power?

3. What does he mean by "equality"? What makes human beings equal?

4. What does he mean by "freedom"? What makes human beings free?

5. What sort of conduct does reason teach?

6. Does reason tell me to put others before myself, or myself before others? Do we have a duty
to love others?

7. Does Locke argue that human beings are reasonable, or not?

8. What is the state of war?

9. Can the state of war occur in the state of nature?

10. Can the state of war occur in civil society?

11. Is government necessary, or merely desirable?

12. Do human beings have the right to suicide? Is a slave "free" to kill himself? Are paragraphs
#6 and #23 contradictory?

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