Description
Book SynopsisThis book completes A. John Simmons's exploration and development of Lockean moral and political philosophy, a project begun in The Lockean Theory of Rights (Princeton paperback edition, 1994). Here Simmons discusses the Lockean view of the nature of, grounds for, and limits on political relations between persons. Originally published in 1993. Th
Trade Review"Simmons has many intelligent and thought-provoking things to say about Locke, and he is both painstaking and comprehensive in his efforts to relate his own position to the existing secondary literature on [this philosopher]."--American Political Science Review "An important addition to the ongoing attempt to decipher Locke's own position presented in his Two Treatises. Simmons offers some refreshing insights as he picks his way through the various claims and counterclaims made in the masses of secondary literature."--Canadian Journal of Political Science "I can think of few political philosophers I prefer to John Simmons. He is a clear and very analytical writer. The professional philosopher may read him with profit, and the layman with ease."--F. H. Buckley, Liberty
Table of ContentsList of AbbreviationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction3Pt. 1Nonconsensual Relations111The Lockean State of Nature131.1Locke's State of Nature131.2The Moral, Social, and Historical Dimensions231.3The Point of State-of-Nature Stories332Force and Right402.1The State of War402.2How Rights Are Lost462.3Despotism: Slavery and Absolute Government48Pt. 2Consent and Government573Political Consent593.1The Content of Lockean Consent593.2Consent, Contract, and Trust683.3The Appeal of Consent Theory724The Varieties of Consent804.1Express and Tacit Consent804.2Majority Consent90Pt. 3The Limits of Society995Inalienable Rights1015.1The Property of Inalienability1015.2Locke on Inalienability1085.3Locke's Commitments1195.4Toleration1235.5Inalienability and Absolutism1376Dissolution and Resistance1476.1The Revolutionary Stance1476.2The Right of Resistance1556.3The Consequences of Dissolution1676.4The Duty to Resist178Pt. 4Consent and the Edge of Anarchy1937The Critique of Lockean Consent Theory1977.1Hume's Attack1977.2The Meaning of Consent in Locke2028Consent, Obligation, and Anarchy2188.1Consent and Voting2188.2Consent and Residence2258.3Duress, Hard Choices, and Free Choice2328.4Lockean Anarchism248Works Cited271Index285
