17. Constitutional Government: Locke's Second Treatise (13-19)

Introduction to Political Philosophy (PLSC 114)

In this lecture, two important issues are addressed in the context of Locke's Second Treatise. First, there is discussion on the role of the executive vis-a-vis the legislative branch of government in Locke's theory of the constitutional state. Second, Locke's political theories are related to the American regime and contemporary American political philosophy. The lecture concludes with John Rawls' book, A Theory of Justice, and how his general theory relates to Locke's political ideas.

00:00 - Chapter 1. The Role of Executive Power in Locke's Theory of Government
27:41 - Chapter 2. Contrasting Rawls' Theory of Justice with Locke's Theory of LiberalIsm
42:17 - Chapter 3. Locke, the American Regime and the Current State of Political Philosophy

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Fall 2006.