The Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought is one of the most recognizable anthology series in the philosophical field for good reason. Their volumes of great works are readable, but maintain enough of the original authors’ spelling and voice to ensure a personal and insightful reading experience.
The edition of John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government is no exception to this general observation of the series. Editor Peter Laslett does a superb job of maintaining the original voice and tone of Locke’s classic work, but still recognizes that the English language has changed in significant ways since the days of Locke and footnotes accordingly in addition to providing the reader with an excellent overview of Locke’s biography and context.
The text does preserve Locke’s original spellings, grammar use, and syntax, which can be difficult to follow at times, but it is by no means impossible to understand. Let’s just say it is significantly easier to comprehend than a Shakespeare play, and that’s saying something for a work in political philosophy. Despite an older form of English being used, it is still very accessible to the modern reader, especially compared with translations of texts with a different original language like Aristotle’s Politics.
So Two Treatises of Government is a good edition of a classic work of thought, why should the average person read it?
Locke’s writing proved foundational to the generation that founded America, declared it’s independence and wrote its constitution. As arguably the most significant work of enlightenment liberal philosophy to influence the founding of America, Locke’s Treatises should be required reading of anyone seeking to understand the American democracy.
It’s natural for people to want to see a political society be the best version of its constituent parts, so it’s always difficult to acknowledge that a political society will have short comings. However, such shortcomings exist and understanding the basic shortcomings of a Lockean social contract can go a long way in helping us better understand American “shortcomings.”
Significant in this, I think, is Locke’s emphasis on human equality and property.
Locke notes that being equal, humans gain property through a drive to survive in nature, and this becomes the basis of a social contract and its resulting political system. To follow this argumentation through, one must accept that in a world of human equality, economic inequality can and will exist, and that inequality will more or less be embodied in the political society that seeks to maintain this political equality.
This is a hard thing to accept, especially in the American context of the day. It certainly is not an argument for social Darwinism; nor should it be meant to justify monopolies, or gross economic inequality, but it does raise a question regarding just what is gained by political equality and the affirmation of human natural equality. America is built on these assumptions, so understanding where Locke got these ideas, how he understood them, and how he applied them should be of value to any person.
The value of the re-read.
This was my second time reading this book and so it was helpful to have the aid of earlier highlighting and notes as I got to check how my understanding of the material had developed over time.
Though this is more of an argument in favor of purchasing hard copies of important books as opposed to digital ones, I think it bears mentioning in this review.
In the context of recommending this edition as one of the best one’s an individual can have on his or her shelf. Just like a good movie, or video game that has that “re-watch” or “re-play” property, a book also has a “re-read” property.
This edition of Locke’s Two Treatises of Government is one of those books.