Response Papers 9 & 10: John Locke, 2nd Treatise... and Finals Review
Instructions: Respond to each of the following, using cited text to support your answer. You can fill in your answers under the
questions (bold your answers please). Spread the questions apart on the page if you need to. These two pages (see next page)
double as the finals review for the Locke material. It will certainly help you fill out your note-card for Locke. So work with care!
(i) Locke speaks of human beings the state of nature. What does he say it is like? What does it include?
(ii) When/under what conditions, in Locke’s view, do laws first arise and have authority?
(iii) There are three forms of power Locke speaks of. What are they, and of which does he speak most
favorably where government is concerned?
(iv) What first causes inequality, according to Locke?
(v) Why, according to Locke, are some forms of material inequality legitimate?
(vi) Name the three elements in Locke’s notion of how I can properly have property.
a.
b.
c.
(vii) (a) What, according to Locke, is government for? (b) What can we (legitimately) do if it ceases to do
what it’s for?
(viii) Locke (a) holds that consent by a majority is what legitimates the forming of a political body. But Locke
does not argue (b) the best form of a political body can take is majority rule. What is the difference
between these two ideas? Does Locke make both claims? Neither? One? Which?
Thinking Thematically.
Below are some themes we have explored across the three figures that we’ve considered, vis-à-vis Locke. A ‘theme’ is a ‘big idea’
like justice, human nature, division of labor, devolution/degradation of psyches and states, freedom, property, equality, and
reason.
As practice for thinking/writing in this way, give a general/overall answer, supported by text and examples, to the
following. Give brief answers here—but remember, on the final, the questions, though closely related, will not be identical to
these, and your answers for the final will be a bit longer. Hint: These are good discussion starters in study groups.
(viii) Locke, Plato, and Rousseau each consider the relation between reason and freedom. Briefly: What do
they each say about it? Then isolate and very briefly discuss one important disagreement between them.
(ix) We have now three views about the relation between equality and justice. Pick two of them. Say what
the views are, then which is most plausible/likely to be true, and why you think so.
(x) All three of our figures had notions of a ‘partitioned’ soul. First, pick two of these accounts of this
partition and describe them. Second, compare and evaluate them. Which view is most compelling to you?
Why?
BONUS ROUND: APPLICATION
We talked about the importance of Locke to the liberal tradition, and the American founding in particular.
Answer: What are key aspects or elements of Lockean thought that have made their way into our
system of government? Then give your view: What American government (in general) would most
disappoint Locke as a departure from his principles?