Two Treatises of Civil Government


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.3 stars; 59 reviews)

The Two Treatises of Civil Government is a work of political philosophy published anonymously in 1689 by John Locke. The First Treatise is an extended attack on Sir Robert Filmer's Patriarcha, which argued for a divinely-ordained, hereditary, absolute monarchy. The more influential Second Treatise outlines a theory of civil society based on natural rights and contract theory. Locke begins by describing the "state of nature," and goes on to explain the hypothetical rise of property and civilization, asserting that the only legitimate governments are those which have the consent of the people.

Locke's ideas heavily influenced both the American and French Revolutions. His notions of people's rights and the role of civil government provided strong support for the intellectual movements of both revolutions. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia) (11 hr 4 min)

Chapters

00 - Preface 5:56 Read by Philippa
01 - Book I, Chapter 01 6:25 Read by Philippa
02 - Book I, Chapter 02: Of Paternal and Regal Power 18:48 Read by Philippa
03 - Book I, Chapter 03: Of Adam's Title to Sovereignty by Creation 12:49 Read by Philippa
04 - Book I, Chapter 04: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty By Donation, Gen. I. 28 39:11 Read by Philippa
05 - Book I, Chapter 05: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty By the Subjection of Eve 12:32 Read by Philippa
06 - Book I, Chapter 06: Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty By Fatherhood 44:43 Read by Philippa
07 - Book I, Chapter 07: Of Fatherhood and Property Considered Together As Foun… 12:01 Read by Philippa
08 - Book I, Chapter 08: Of the Conveyance of Adam’s Sovereign Monarchical Power 6:07 Read by Philippa
09 - Book I, Chapter 09: Of Monarchy, By Inheritance from Adam 33:27 Read by Philippa
10 - Book I, Chapter 10: Of the Heir to Adam’s Monarchical Power 5:07 Read by Philippa
11 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 1 23:33 Read by Philippa
12 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 2 18:38 Read by Philippa
13 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 3 36:36 Read by Philippa
14 - Book I, Chapter 11: Who Heir? part 4 32:08 Read by Philippa
15 - Book II, Chapter 01 4:16 Read by D.E. Wittkower
16 - Book II, Chapter 02: Of the State of Nature 21:22 Read by D.E. Wittkower
17 - Book II, Chapter 03: Of the State of War 10:46 Read by D.E. Wittkower
18 - Book II, Chapter 04: Of Slavery 5:07 Read by D.E. Wittkower
19 - Book II, Chapter 05: Of Property 45:17 Read by D.E. Wittkower
20 - Book II, Chapter 06: Of Paternal Power 33:34 Read by Anna Simon
21 - Book II, Chapter 07: Of Political or Civil Society 28:10 Read by Nikki Sullivan
22 - Book II, Chapter 08: Of the Beginning of Political Societies 38:24 Read by Anna Simon
23 - Book II, Chapter 09: Of the Ends of Political Society and Government 7:18 Read by Sibella Denton
24 - Book II, Chapter 10: Of the Forms of a Common-wealth 2:43 Read by Sibella Denton
25 - Book II, Chapter 11: Of the Extent of the Legislative Power 21:27 Read by Jc Guan
26 - Book II, Chapter 12: Of the Legislative, Executive, and Federative Power o… 7:08 Read by Ashwin Jain
27 - Book II, Chapter 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common-weal… 22:41 Read by Ashwin Jain
28 - Book II, Chapter 14: Of Prerogative 18:09 Read by Ashwin Jain
29 - Book II, Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, Conside… 7:09 Read by Sibella Denton
30 - Book II, Chapter 16: Of Conquest 25:04 Read by Sibella Denton
31 - Book II, Chapter 17: Of Usurpation 2:21 Read by Sibella Denton
32 - Book II, Chapter 18: Of Tyranny 13:57 Read by Sibella Denton
33 - Book II, Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government 41:11 Read by Sibella Denton

Reviews

Prescient


(5 stars)

All but one of the readers are fantastic. I feel robbed for not having been exposed to this information at an early age. It makes all the reasons for western civilization bare. And it arms us to recognize the wolves in sheep's clothing who want to take away our rights and disregard the law of nature. Each child should have to memorize chapter 19 of Book 2 before graduating high school.

Please disregard previous review


(5 stars)

This is an exemplary reading of a philosophical text. The first reader has a clear, beautifully modulated voice with excellent enunciation. The recording quality is fine. The text is delivered at exactly the sort of speed needed to convey the ideas, and the reader evidently understands fully everything she narrates. The subsequent readers also are fully competent. To give this audiobook a "lowest" rating is absurd. Time-wasters like the previous reviewer are stupidly abusive and I only hope that the readers are not affected in the slightest by such inconsiderate rubbish and will go on using their own free time to give us superb productions like this.

Joining in on Booing PhilyFlowers off the stage


(4 stars)

This is a very good community reading, and while one person didn't live up to PhilyFlower's high standards for receiving free-volunteered material, no one does a bad job, at all.

A must read


(4 stars)

I highly recommend this writing to any student of government or liberty. Most recording are good, but one reader was slow and another hard to understand at times with his accent.

ok reading


(3 stars)

some of the chapters are pretty tough to understand what the person is saying


(4 stars)

It was really good up until the part where the dude from India started reading.

brilliant and as relevant today as when written!


(5 stars)

well read as well. Thank you.

great reading


(5 stars)

This was a really good reading, especially the first treatise. Thanks.