Great Books III Fall 2005

Second Treatise of Government - John Locke

"Where lies the boundary between Human Law and Natural Law?"

Reading/Discussion Schedule

September 30 - I-VI; October 4 - VII-XII; October 11 - XIII-XIX

Reading/Discussion Prompts

September 30

  1. What did you find to be "radical" in this reading?
  2. Why is labour the key to ownership of property?
  3. How does labour increase value?

October 4

  1. Am I my own property?
  2. Where is the body politic in Paradise Lost?
  3. What compact is operating in your dorm?
  4. What are the rules of community membership on the Internet?
  5. Does money have value?

October 11

  1. Where does power reside?
  2. What is the relationship between power and the boundary between natural and human law?
   
Weekly Writing

October 11

Write a one page analysis of one of the following  three statements from Locke's work. Your analysis is intended to explore the meaning and implications of your chosen quote.

"prerogative is nothing but the power of doing public good without a rule" (87)

"The great and chief end , therefore, of men's uniting into common-wealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property." (66)

"it is labour indeed that puts the difference of value on every thing" (25)