Two Treatises of Government

"Two Treatises of Government," written by John Locke in the late 17th century, is a foundational text in political philosophy. In it, Locke argues that government should be based on the consent of the governed and that individuals have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. He criticizes absolute monarchy and advocates for a system where power is limited and accountable to the people. The work influenced Enlightenment thinkers and modern democratic thought, laying the groundwork for concepts like social contracts and individual rights in political systems, particularly in the development of liberal democracy.