Locke: Political Writings (Hackett Classics) by John Locke

Locke: Political Writings (Hackett Classics) Reviews

• 
  Brett

  This is as good a collection of Locke's most historically valuable works as you're likely to find. I rate it highly less because I am enamored with Locke's writing - let's face it, no one is coming to this volume for the electrifying prose - but more because it's most of what you want in one place. It also has the very good benefit of a long and useful introduction (the first hundred pages or so of this text is an extended essay from the editor) placing Locke in historical context and teasing out the importance of these writings.
  
  For those wishing to brush up on classical political theory, this book is very helpful. It includes the full Second Treatise on Government, the constitution of the Carolinas, and selections from many other pieces of Locke's output. None of it is easy reading, and modern readers are not going to 'agree' with Locke in a normal sense, but for those reviewing the classics, this volume is convenient and affordable.
• 
  David Rooker

  Not enough people in the US even understand the theory underlying private property. This book will fill that educational gap to some degree.
• 
  Stuart Dean

  John Locke was the father of Classical Liberalism, closer today to libertarianism than anything else. This contains his best known works and some of his letters. Includes The Second Treatise of Government, The Letter Concerning Toleration, and the Constitution of the Carolina Colony. The first 100 pages are a history lesson placing his works in context.
  
  The historical preface sets the stage for Locke's works. He lived through the English Civil War, the protestant reign of Charles II, the Catholic reign of James II, and the seizing of the Crown by William of Orange (William and Mary). He worked in the protestant government and was forced into exile by the Catholics. He returned with the success of William III.
  
  It's interesting to see the different writings over time and his evolution of thought. At first a strict monarchist he later moved to limited government, although he was always a monarchist and had total disdain for democracy. As a government employee writing potentially treasonous work he wrote much of his stuff under a pseudonym. So you have a man preaching limited government also writing the Carolina Constitution which established a landed nobility ruling over a legal serfdom. The only really consistency was his stance on religious tolerance, always in favor of tolerance and separation of church and state.
  
  Locke spent an inordinate amount of time disputing the writings of Sir Robert Filmer, who had written a famous treatise espousing absolute monarchy based upon the fact that God had given Adam dominion over all men, so his descendants should have the same ability to rule uncontested. Locke focused heavily on this because he disagreed on many levels and because at the time many members of the Church were preaching Filmer's ideology to the masses.
  
  Locke is rightly credited with being a founding philosopher concerning religious tolerance, and his views on limited government are best taken in context of his times, not so much the current times as he wrote much on how the government was only legitimate if supported by the people but he still believed it should be led by a strong monarch, preferably hereditary.
  
  
• 
  Justin Holiman

  Although I have fundamental issues with Locke's extension of the covenant to almost every aspect of life, I found his political rebellion theory to be fascinating. Locke is tremendously sarcastic which was a very fun surprise.
• 
  Parami Epaarachchi

  another horrible piece of literature. so classist, racist and colonialist. didn’t understand a thing he said as it was again, all about the Christian church. If you want to read Western philosophy, you have to have a thorough understanding of Christianity.
• 
  Amanda

  Thoughtful reading.
• 
  saizine

  Read Second Treatise on Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration for a university course. The Hackett edition is very well produced and curated, and Wooton's introduction is a lovely introduction to both the expressly political texts and Locke's writing on religious toleration. For anyone looking for a compendium of Locke's work, this edition is strong on both context and primary source documents.
• 
  Saya

  I can only do John Lock on a very limited basis. I'll have to pick this up in a month or two.
• 
  John Yelverton

  One of the few philosophy books that was actually a joy to read in college.
• 
  Claire

  Gotta love Locke.