AncientKnowledge Club
Start reading
All books
Guided edition

Second Treatise of Government

by John Locke

A lasting account of consent, property and the limits of legitimate government.

Written 1689 31 guided readings Named English edition Read at your own pace
Read the first section freeView source record

The book stays at the centre.

Read the source first. Use the guide when the language slows you down.

Original text first

Read the author's own words in a calm, focused layout.

Guidance in plain English

Get help with difficult language, context and argument.

Key takeaways for every chapter

Finish each chapter with the ideas worth carrying forward.

Inside this edition

Read it in the order it was written.

Each reading keeps the source, context, explanation and takeaways together.

CHAPTER. I

01
CHAPTER. IOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Open

CHAPTER. II

02
CHAPTER. IIOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. III

03
CHAPTER. IIIOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. IV

04
CHAPTER. IVOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. V

05
CHAPTER. V. Labour makes propertyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
06
CHAPTER. V. Use, waste and abundanceOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
07
CHAPTER. V. Labour, use, and moneyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. VI

08
CHAPTER. VI. Parental power ends in maturityOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
09
CHAPTER. VI. Minority proves no father-sovereignOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
10
CHAPTER. VI. Inheritance and household consentOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. VII

11
CHAPTER. VII. Domestic bonds are not polityOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
12
CHAPTER. VII. Sovereignty needs a common judgeOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. VIII

13
CHAPTER. VIII. Consent forms political bodiesOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
14
CHAPTER. VIII. Why one ruler firstOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
15
CHAPTER. VIII. Consent, birth and membershipOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. IX

16
CHAPTER. IXOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. X

17
CHAPTER. XOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XI

18
CHAPTER. XIOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XII

19
CHAPTER. XIIOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XIII

20
CHAPTER. XIIIOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XIV

21
CHAPTER. XIVOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XV

22
CHAPTER. XVOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XVI

23
CHAPTER. XVI. Conquest cannot create ruleOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
24
CHAPTER. XVI. Inheritance limits conquestOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
25
CHAPTER. XVI. Conquest yields no lawful titleOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XVII

26
CHAPTER. XVIIOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XVIII

27
CHAPTER. XVIIIOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

CHAPTER. XIX

28
CHAPTER. XIX. How governments fallOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
29
CHAPTER. XIX. Property as the test of trustOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
30
CHAPTER. XIX. Resistance without disorderOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library
31
CHAPTER. XIX. Judging a broken trustOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways
Library

Source and edition are always named.

John Locke, 1689. The Ancient Knowledge Club guide is original and kept separate from the source text.