Introduction to Political Philosophy

Locke on Civil Society

As you read the material for the next class, keep the questions below in mind. To answer these questions you will have to reflect critically on what you have read and possibly re-read important passages. Keep in mind that there are two basic kinds of information that you need to look for in the readings.

1. What are the main points or conclusions that an author accepts with respect to a particular issue?
2. What are the reasons or important considerations that lead the author to accept that conclusion?

For our purposes, it is information of the latter sort (2) that will be our primary concern since our most basic task is to evaluate the reasons that are offered to support accepting one possible conclusion about an issue, rather than another. Although I strongly suggest that you write out brief answers to these questions, you do not have to turn in written responses. You do, however, need to be prepared to speak intelligently to these issues in the next class meeting.

Reading:

• John Locke, Second Treatise of Government (Sections 87-91, 95-99, 119-131, 134-142, 149), pp. 46-49, 52-53, 63-68, 69-75, 77-78.

Questions:

1. What distinguishes civil society from the state of nature?
2. Why must members of civil society obey what the majority decides? Does this just open the door to tyranny of the majority?
3. If a person has never verbally or formally given his consent to joining civil society, what can count as “tacit consent” to the government so that society can fairly make demands of the individual? Can one tacitly concede to being a member of society?
4. What reasons are there for people to enter into civil society?
5. What two powers must people give up in order to do so?
6. What four limits are placed on the power and authority of the government?
7. Under what conditions can a person leave civil society?

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