Commentary
[in chronological order]
Family Politics: The Idea of Marriage in Modern Political Thought
- Scott Yenor, Family Politics: The Idea of Marriage in Modern Political Thought, Baylor University Press, 2012.From the publisher: With crisp prose and intellectual fairness, Family Politics traces the treatment of the family in the philosophies of leading political thinkers of the modern world. What is family? What is marriage? In an effort to address contemporary… More
“Mixed Modes in John Locke’s Moral and Political Philosophy”
- Steven Forde, "'Mixed Modes' in John Locke's Moral and Political Philosophy," Review of Politics 4 (2011), 581-608.The moral theory of “mixed modes” John Locke presents in his Essay concerning Human Understanding is beset with paradoxes. On the one hand, he tells us that all mixed modes, including moral concepts, are “arbitrary” mental constructs.… More
John Locke: Problems and Perspectives
- John Locke: Problems and Perspectives, ed. John Yolton (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011).Originally published in 1969, the impetus for this collection came from a conference on the Thought of John Locke held at York University, Toronto in 1966. Written in the co-operative spirit of the conference, the essays collected here were intended to… More
The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism: Hobbes to Locke
- C.B. MacPherson, The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism: Hobbes to Locke (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962).This seminal work by political philosopher C.B. Macpherson was first published by the Clarendon Press in 1962, and remains of key importance to the study of liberal-democratic theory half-a-century later. In it, Macpherson argues that the chief difficulty of… More
Locke and the Compass of Human Understanding by John Yolton
- Yolton, John. Locke and the Compass of Human Understanding: A Selective Commentary on the 'Essay'. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.From the publisher: “The Essay Concerning Human Understanding is John Locke’s most important work, and through this selective commentary, first published in 1970, Professor Yolton concentrates our attention on the more interesting and… More
The Lockean Commonwealth
- Ross Corbett, The Lockean Commonwealth (Albany: SUNY Press, 2009).The tension between executive prerogative in times of emergency and the importance of maintaining and preserving the rule of law has been a perennial concern for modern democratic states. The Lockean Commonwealth reappraises John Locke’s contribution to… More
“The Charitable John Locke”
- Steven Forde, "The Charitable John Locke," Review of Politics, 71 (2009), 428-458.Locke’s political philosophy, like any that centers on individual rights such as property rights, raises the question whether human beings have any duty to charity, or economic assistance, to the needy. Locke’s works contain some strong statements… More
The Cambridge Companion to Locke’s ‘Essay Concerning Human Understanding’
- The Cambridge Companion to Locke's 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed. Lex Newman (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007).First published in 1689, John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding is widely recognised as among the greatest works in the history of Western philosophy. The Essay puts forward a systematic empiricist theory of mind, detailing how all ideas and… More
“What Does Locke Expect Us to Know?” by Steven Forde
- Forde, Steven. “What Does Locke Expect Us to Know?” The Review of Politics 68, no. 2 (2006): 232–258.Abstract: “Locke claims that his moral and political teaching is capable of a fully rational demonstration. It would seem then that Lockean citizens are expected to grasp the rational bases of their regime. But Locke was notoriously vague or incomplete… More
Politics and Vision
- Sheldon Wolin, Politics and Vision (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006).Sheldon Wolin’s Politics and Vision inspired and instructed two generations of political theorists after its appearance in 1960. It culminates in Wolin’s remarkable argument that the United States has invented a new political form,… More
Major Works
Some Thoughts Concerning Education
- Recommended edition: Locke, John. Some Thoughts Concerning Education. Edited by Ruth Grant and Nathan Tarcov. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1996.Excerpt: “I myself have been consulted of late by so many, who profess themselves at a loss how to breed their children; and the early corruption of youth is now become so general a complaint; that he cannot be thought wholly impertinent, who brings the… More
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
- Recommended edition: Locke, John. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Edited by Peter H. Nidditch. New York: Oxford University Press, 1975.Excerpt: “Since it is the understanding, that sets man above the rest of sensible beings, and gives him all the advantage and dominion, which he has over them; it is certainly a subject, even for its nobleness, worth our labour to inquire into. The… More
A Letter Concerning Toleration
- Recommended edition: Locke, John. A Letter Concerning Toleration. Edited by James Tully. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1983.Excerpt: “I think indeed there is no nation under heaven, in which so much has already been said upon that subject, as ours. But yet certainly there is no people that stand in more need of having something further both said and done amongst them, in… More
Two Treatises of Government
- Recommended edition: Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government. Edited by Peter Laslett. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 1988.Excerpt: “Thou hast here the beginning and end of a discourse concerning government; what fate has otherwise disposed of the papers that should have filled up the middle, and were more than all the rest, it is not worth while to tell thee. These, which… More
Multimedia
Nathan Tarcov: John Locke’s Philosophy
- Nathan Tarcov, "John Locke's Philosophy," Kenyon College, 1990.Nathan Tarcov of the University of Chicago lectures on John Locke at Kenyon College in 1990.
Thomas West and Steven Forde: John Locke on the Foundations of Natural Law and Natural Right
- Thomas West and Steven Forde, "John Locke on the Foundations of Natural Law and Natural Right," for the Braniff Graduate Salon, October 17, 2008Public discussion with Dr. Thomas West and Dr. Steven Forde of University of North Texas on “John Locke on the Foundations of Natural Law and Natural Right,” for the Braniff Graduate Salon, sponsored by the students of Braniff Graduate School,… More
Jeremy Waldron: Lecture on Locke’s First Treatise
- Jeremy Waldron, “The Mother Too Hath Her Title: John Locke on Motherhood and Equality," Contemporary Civilization Course-Wide Lecture at Columbia University, November 12th, 2010.“The Mother Too Hath Her Title: John Locke on Motherhood and Equality”
Steven Smith: Lectures on the Second Treatise
- Steven Smith, "Introduction to Political Philosophy," Yale Open Courses, Autumn 2006.Professor Steven Smith’s lectures on Locke’s Second Treatise from Yale’s “Introduction to Political Philosophy,” available through Yale Open Courses. Autumn 2006. Constitutional Government: Locke, Second Treatise (1-5)… More
Thomas L. Pangle: Locke and Civic Education
- Thomas L. Pangle, "Locke and Civic Education," Kenyon College, 1990.Thomas Pangle of the University of Texas (then at the University of Toronto) lectures on John Locke at Kenyon College in 1990.
Other Works
Observations Upon the Growth and Culture of Vines and Olives
- John Locke, "Observations Upon the Growth and Culture of Vines and Olives" in The Works of John Locke in Nine Volumes, Vol. 9 (London: Rivington, 1824.)Excerpt: THE country, where these observations were made, hath vanity enough to over-value every thing it produces; and it is hard to live in a place, and not take some tincture from the manners of the people. Yet I think I should scarce have ventured to… More
A Discourse of Miracles
- John Locke, "A Discourse of Miracles" in The Works of John Locke in Nine Volumes, Vol. 8 (London: Rivington, 1824).Excerpt: It is to be considered, that divine revelation receives testimony from no other miracles, but such as are wrought to witness his mission from God who delivers the revelation. All other miracles that are done in the world, how many or great soever,… More
Some Thoughts Concerning Reading and Study for a Gentleman
- John Locke, "Some Thoughts Concerning Reading and Study for a Gentleman" in The Works of John Locke in Nine Volumes, Vol. 2 (London: Rivington, 1824).Excerpt: The improvement of the understanding is for two ends; first, for our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver and make out that knowledge to others. The latter of these, if it be not the chief end of study in a gentleman; yet it… More
Short Observations On a Printed Paper, Entitled, For Encouraging the Coining Silver Money In England, and After For Keeping It Here
- John Locke, "Short Observations On a Printed Paper, Entitled, For Encouraging the Coining Silver Money In England, and After For Keeping It Here" in The Works of John Locke in Nine Volumes, Vol 4 (London: Rivington, 1824).Excerpt: The matter in short is this; England sending more consumable commodities to Spain than it receives from thence, the merchants, who manage their trade, bring back the overplus in bullion, which, at their return, they sell as a commodity. The chapmen,… More
Some Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest, and Raising the Value of Money
- John Locke, "Some Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest, and Raising the Value of Money" in The Works of John Locke in Nine Volumes, Vol. 4 (London: Rivington, 1824).Excerpt: The first thing to be considered is, “Whether the price of the hire of money can be regulated by law?” And to that I think, generally speaking, one may say, it is manifest it cannot. For since it is impossible to make a law that shall hinder a… More
Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina
- Recommended edition: Political Essays, ed. Mark Goldie (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997), 160-181.Excerpt: Our sovereign lord the king having, out of his royal grace and bounty, granted unto us the province of Carolina, with all the royalties, properties, jurisdictions, and privileges of a county palatine, as large and ample as the county palatine of… More
The Reasonableness of Christianity
- Recommended Edition: The Reasonableness of Christianity, ed. I. Ramsey (Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 1958).Excerpt: The little satisfaction and consistency that is to be found, in most of the systems of divinity I have met with, made me betake myself to the sole reading of the scriptures (to which they all appeal) for the understanding the Christian Religion.… More
Of the Conduct of the Understanding
- Recommended edition: Some Thoughts Concerning Education, ed. Ruth Grant and Nathan Tarcov (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1996).Excerpt: The last resort a man has recourse to, in the conduct of himself, is his understanding: for though we distinguish the faculties of the mind, and give the supreme command to the will, as to an agent; yet the truth is, the man, who is the agent,… More
An Essay on the Poor Law
- Recommended edition: Political Essays, ed. Mark Goldie (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997), 182- 198.Excerpt: If the cause of this evil be well looked into, we humbly conceive it will be found to have proceeded neither from scarcity of provisions, nor from want of employment for the poor, since the goodness of God has blessed these times with plenty, no less… More
Essays on the Law of Nature
- Recommended edition: Political Essays, ed. Mark Goldie (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997), 79-133.Excerpt: Since God shows Himself to us as present everywhere and, as it were, forces Himself upon the eyes of men as much in the fixed course of nature now as by the frequent evidence of miracles in time past, I assume there will be no one to deny the… More