Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Two Treatises of Government

  • By: John Locke
  • Narrated by: James Langton
  • Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (31 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Two Treatises of Government

By: John Locke
Narrated by: James Langton
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Often considered the foundation of political liberalism, John Locke's Two Treatises of Government was first published anonymously in 1689, in the wake of England's Glorious Revolution. In The First Treatise of Government, Locke refutes the idea of divine monarchy, while The Second Treatise of Government articulates Locke's philosophy of government, which he based upon his theories of natural rights and the social contract. In Locke's view, governments' legitimacy is based upon their performance of their proper functions---preservation of the life, liberty, and property rights of their citizens, and protection from those who seek to violate these rights. A radical doctrine at the time of its publication, Locke's theories provided a philosophical basis for many of the principles behind the American Revolution. More than 300 years after the publication of the Two Treatises of Government, Locke's ideas continue to spark debate. A must-listen for anyone interested in the foundations of contemporary political ideology, Locke's hugely influential work will retain its relevance for generations to come.

Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Leviathan cover art
On Liberty cover art
Leviathan cover art
The Prince cover art
The Spirit of the Laws cover art
Rights of Man cover art
Rerum Novarum cover art
Rediscovering Americanism cover art
The Law cover art
The Age of Reason cover art
Understanding Power cover art
Democracy Matters cover art
The Stage of Time cover art
The Ten Commandments cover art
The Thomas Sowell Reader cover art
Liberty Defined cover art

What listeners say about Two Treatises of Government

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    23
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars

A hugely important work, done justice

Anyone who values democratic government owes a huge amount to Locke, and Langton's performance treats the work with the gravitas it deserves.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great listen and politically intriguing.

the book is in two parts the first a response to the tyrannical power of monarchy and the second a justification for democracy and private property. concepts are engaged with critically and well so demonstrate the value towards what Locke focused primarily on the public good. best read in regards to Hobbes' leviathan and Rousseau's social contract

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Glorious and I was sad when it ended.

he admits he does rather labour his point in the first book, but it's very enjoyable. While a serious topic I was grinning and sometimes giggling at the sharpness and whit with which he decimates Sir Robert's 'arguments'. As to the second book -. love it so much, he totally nails his point such that it's impenetrability to decent is impossible (so far as I can see). Its glorious.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!