# Sir Robert Filmer — Two Treatises of Government character guide > Sir Robert Filmer in Two Treatises of Government by John Locke. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sir Robert, Robert, Creation Sir Robert **First appearance:** 0001-two-treatises-of-government ## Snapshot The champion of absolute monarchy whose Patriarcha argues no man is born free—and whose 'rope of sand' Locke sets out to demolish. ## Who they are Filmer is the adversary Locke takes into his hands 'with all the expectation' and reads through with attention, only to find a system compressed into two claims: all government is absolute monarchy, and no man is born free. His book, adorned with a frontispiece and applause, aims to provide chains for all mankind, yet Locke finds it useful only to those who raise dust to blind the people. As the idol of absolute-power worshippers, Filmer gives Locke both his target and his occasion—without him, the Two Treatises would have no foil. ## Relationships ### [Adam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/adam) _rivalry_ Locke uses Adam as a central figure to refute Filmer's patriarchal theory of absolute monarchy, making them intellectual antagonists. ### [Noah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/noah) _rivalry_ Noah is cited by Locke to counter Filmer's argument that patriarchal power descended from Noah to his sons. ### [Adam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/adam) _rivalry_ Locke uses Adam as a central figure to refute Filmer's patriarchal theory of absolute monarchy, making them intellectual antagonists. ### [Noah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/noah) _rivalry_ Noah is cited by Locke to counter Filmer's argument that patriarchal power descended from Noah to his sons. ## In the story ### [Two Treatises of Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/two-treatises-of-government) Filmer is identified as the primary opponent whose false principles and foundation are to be detected and overthrown in the first treatise. ### [Book I: Of Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/book-i-of-government) Filmer is the primary target of Locke's critique; his arguments for absolute monarchy based on Adam's sovereignty are systematically refuted. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/i) Locke identifies Filmer as the chief proponent of the doctrine of absolute monarchy and divine right, whose work 'Patriarcha' he will examine. ### [II: Of Paternal and Regal Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/ii-of-paternal-and-regal-power) Filmer's central thesis that men are not naturally free and his equation of paternal authority with royal authority are critiqued. Locke notes Filmer's failure to define 'fatherly authority' and his reliance on unproven assertions about Adam's sovereignty. ### [Of Adam's Title to Sovereignty by Creation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/iii-of-adam-s-title-to-sovereignty-by-creation) Author of the patriarchalist theory that Locke refutes; claims Adam was monarch from creation. ### [Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by Donation, Gen. 1:28](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/iv-of-adam-s-title-to-sovereignty-by-donation-gen-1-28) Filmer claims Adam's sovereignty by donation; Locke refutes this interpretation. ### [Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by the Subjection of Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/v-of-adam-s-title-to-sovereignty-by-the-subjection-of-eve) Filmer is the target of Locke's critique, having claimed that Genesis 3:16 establishes Adam's absolute monarchy. ### [Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty by Fatherhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/vi-of-adam-s-title-to-sovereignty-by-fatherhood) Author whose arguments for absolute monarchy based on Adam's fatherhood are systematically dismantled. ### [VIII: Of the Conveyance of Adam’s Sovereign Monarchical Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/viii-of-the-conveyance-of-adam-s-sovereign-monarchical-power) Filmer's contradictory claims about the conveyance of Adam's sovereign power are scrutinized; he variously asserts inheritance, grant, usurpation, or election as the means, undermining his own theory. ### [Of Monarchy, by Inheritance from Adam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/ix-of-monarchy-by-inheritance-from-adam) Filmer's theory that Adam's monarchical power passes by inheritance is the central target of Locke's critique; Locke shows the logical flaws in this inheritance claim. ### [X: Of the Heir to Adam’s Monarchical Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/x-of-the-heir-to-adam-s-monarchical-power) Author of the patriarchal theory that Locke refutes; cited for his claims about the undeniable right of Adam's heir to rule. ### [XI: Who Heir?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/xi-who-heir) Locke critiques Filmer's assertion that civil power is assigned by divine institution to Adam's heir, showing it leads to confusion and usurpation. ### [Book II: Of Civil Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/book-ii-of-civil-government) Locke refutes Filmer's patriarchal theory of absolute monarchy. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/i) Locke criticizes Filmer's hypothesis that all government derives from Adam's authority. ### [IV: Of Slavery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/iv-of-slavery) Locke quotes Filmer's erroneous definition of liberty as doing as one pleases, then corrects it. ### [Of Property](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/v-of-property) Implicitly criticized for his claim that property is impossible without a universal monarch, which Locke refutes. ### [Of Political or Civil Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/vii-of-political-or-civil-society) Locke implicitly critiques Filmer's patriarchal arguments by contrasting absolute monarchy with genuine civil society. ### [Of the Beginning of Political Societies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/viii-of-the-beginning-of-political-societies) Locke implicitly refutes Filmer's patriarchal theory by arguing that political societies begin by consent, not by paternal dominion. ### [XV: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, Considered Together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/xv-of-paternal-political-and-despotical-power-considered-together) Locke's arguments implicitly counter Filmer's conflation of paternal and political power. ### [XVIII: Of Tyranny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/xviii-of-tyranny) Implied as the target of Locke's critique of absolute power, though not directly named in this chapter. ### [Of the Dissolution of Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/xix-of-the-dissolution-of-government) Locke implicitly refutes Filmer's patriarchal absolutism by arguing that no ruler has divine or hereditary right to arbitrary power; government is dissolved when rulers betray their trust. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced in endnotes regarding his claims on paternal power and supreme authority. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters/sir_robert_filmer - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/characters