Reading Questions
M 13 Dec
Locke, Second Treatise on Government,
1-9, 15-19; Letter Concerning
Toleration
1) Second Treatise
What is Locke's "state of nature"? Is it the same as the "state of
nature" in Leviathan?
What is property? How do human beings become entitled to own goods? Are
there limits on property? How does this compare to Hobbes's ideas of
property? What is money? How does the introduction of money affect the
idea of property?
What are Locke's arguments against patriarchal theories of government?
What is the difference between parental and political authority? Is his
argument about the role of women in parental power better than that of
Hobbes?
What is the relationship between property and power?
What is the difference between the dissolution of society and the
dissolution of government? How does this theory differ from that of
Hobbes?
2) Letter
Concerning Toleration
Does Locke have a valid argument against persecution? If so,
what is it?
Whom are we allowed to persecute, according to Locke? Why?
What does Locke's freedom of conscience establish? Freedom of worship?
of thought? of speech?
Can you link his argument about religion to his argument about property?