The first treatises of john Locke is criticism on the Robert Filmer’s theory patriarcha, which was very famous in 17 century in England, which suggests that, those people should govern who have inherent right to govern. According to Robert Filmer, kings and queens who governs people should be those who have divine right to govern. Those who inherent the throne and belong from the royal family. According to him royal monarchs have the right to rule because they are chosen by the God to rule. However, john Locke completely disagreed with Robert Filmer’s theory of patriarcha and criticized it in his first treatises. According to john Locke, government should be by the people and should work in the interest of people. This first treatises of john Locke laid the foundation of modern democracy.
The second treatises of john Locke is about social contract, the question arises here, social contract between whom? It is a social contract between the people who are governing and the people who are being governed and the contract amongst all the people living in society. It is the social contract between the two parties, in which government is obligated to provide certain benefits to the people, moreover, people have certain roles and responsibilities towards government as well. Social contract is the arrangement between the people and government in which both are obligated to play their part.
Furthermore, Locke believed that, people by nature are very rational, they need little help from government to form a social structure. Another good idea of Locke was that, if government became flawed and not functioning properly people not only have right but obligated to throw that government out. Many scholars believe that, it was Locke ideas which resulted in French and American Revolution. Moreover, Locke also proposed the idea that, powers should be separated from one another because a single person or institution should not seize power for himself/themselves. The modern democracy is completely based on Locke idea in which judiciary, executive and legislation are separated from one another.
