# State of Nature and Social Contract in Two Treatises of Government

> Theme guide for Two Treatises of Government by John Locke.

Humans originally exist in a state of perfect freedom and equality governed by natural law, but they enter into a social contract to form civil society for better protection of their rights.

## Where it surfaces

- [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): Implicit in Locke's rejection of Filmer's claim that Adam's creation immediately established political authority.
- [II: Of the State of Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/ii-of-the-state-of-nature): Locke defines the state of nature as a state of perfect freedom and equality, governed by the law of nature, which forms the basis for political society through consent.
- [III: Of the State of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/iii-of-the-state-of-war): Locke distinguishes the state of nature (peace, reason, no common superior) from the state of war (force, enmity, no appeal), showing how the social contract aims to avoid war.
- [IV: Of Slavery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/iv-of-slavery): Locke explains that a compact between a conqueror and a captive ends the state of war and slavery, as no man can consent to give another power over his own life.
- [Of Property](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/v-of-property): The chapter describes a state of nature where property arises from labor without explicit consent, and later societies use compact to regulate property.
- [VI: Of Paternal Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/vi-of-paternal-power): Locke describes how fathers' authority in families arose from tacit consent of children, not natural right, illustrating the social contract.
- [Of Political or Civil Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/vii-of-political-or-civil-society): Locke contrasts the state of nature with civil society, noting that absolute monarchy leaves subjects in a state of nature regarding the ruler.
- [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 describes the transition from the state of nature to civil society through a social compact, where individuals agree to form a body politic.
- [IX: Of the Ends of Political Society and Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/ix-of-the-ends-of-political-society-and-government): Locke describes the transition from the state of nature to political society through positive agreements, where individuals give up their natural powers for the preservation of property and the common good.
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/chapters/endnotes): Hooker describes the transition from a state of nature to civil society through deliberate agreement and composition among men, establishing government to remedy mutual grievances.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/themes/state_of_nature_and_social_contract
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_treatises_of_government_se/themes