John Locke and Human Nature :: Second Treatise on Civil Government

In The Second Treatise of Government, Locke defines political power, discusses the inalienable birth-rights of man, and the need for both in the formation of a legitimate government.John Lockes The Second Treatise of Government defines a legitimate government in relation to the security measure of inalienable rights. He views a binding government as one which upholds his three main natural laws of life, liberty and property. In defining political power, Locke insists that it is proper to make laws for the regulating and preserving of property, and adds, that if necessary, the execution of such laws, and in the defense of the common-wealth sic from foreign injury. This is needed for the public good. (Locke, Sec. III) Defined, Lockes political power is the ability to uphold a constitution.Lockes reasoning for the creation of a government arises in the need to protect life, liberty and justice. Locke concludes that the reason why men enter into society, is the preservation of their property and the end why they choose and decease a legislative, but adds that the citizens discombobulate a right to resume their original liberty by the establishment of a new legislative (Locke, Sec. CCXXI) when those rights are threatened. The protection of life, liberty and justice then becomes the reason for a new legislative.The value Locke places on property is only furthered in his discussion of the will of the populace. Locke discusses in his chapter Of the seed of Political Societies the effect which the majority has on the betterment of the communityFor when any number of Men have, by the consent of every individual, made a Community, the have thereby made that Community one Body, with a Power to Act as one Body, which is only by the will and determination of the majority (Locke, Sec.