John Locke on Property, Political Authority, and the Social Contract: From the State of Nature to Civil Society John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government (1689) occupies a foundational place in modern political theory, offering a liberal vision of authority, rights, and governance. Central to Locke’s political philosophy is the claim that the preservation of property … Continue reading How does John Locke’s assertion that the primary purpose of establishing commonwealths and government lies in the preservation of property illuminate his broader theory of political authority, social contract, and the transition from the state of nature to civil society?