Books like Two Treatises on Government by John Locke


In the first treatise Locke dismantles the arguments of Robert Filmer, who claimed that sovereign power originates from the divine right of kings and is inherited through family lineage. By exposing logical inconsistencies, Locke shows that authority must be justified by consent rather than birth. The second treatise builds on this critique, presenting Locke’s own theory of government as a social contract among free, rational individuals. He argues that legitimate civil authority is derived from the protection of natural rights—life, liberty, and property—and that governments must remain accountable to the people. The work has become foundational to liberal political philosophy and the concept of individual liberty.
First publish date: 1689
Genre: Politics & Government/Political Theory
Authors: John Locke
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.5 (4 community ratings)

Two Treatises on Government by John Locke

How are these books recommended?

The books recommended for Two Treatises on Government by John Locke are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.


Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.

Books similar to Two Treatises on Government (19 similar books)

The Prince by 6646958|Niccolò Machiavelli book cover

📘 The Prince

A seminal 16th‑century Italian treatise, The Prince offers practical guidance for rulers, arguing that ends can justify morally dubious means to secure power and glory.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.8 (89 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Πολιτικά (Politiká) by 6540416|Aristotle book cover

📘 Πολιτικά (Politiká)
 by Aristotle

A new English translation of Aristotle’s *Politics* preserves the original Greek’s precision while offering a clear, contemporary prose style. It includes scholarly notes, a glossary of key terms, and an introduction that situates the work in its historical and philosophical context.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.7 (14 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Areopagitica by 11204732|John Milton book cover

📘 Areopagitica

John Milton’s 1644 pamphlet Areopagitica argues vigorously against England’s 1643 Licensing Order, championing the liberty of unlicensed printing and free expression.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.4 (14 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Leviathan by 9376057|Thomas Hobbes book cover

📘 Leviathan

Thomas Hobbes' influential work on social contract and political governance from 1651, addressing the structure of government and society as the way to prevent civil war and chaos.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.3 (13 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
On Liberty by 902441|John Stuart Mill book cover

📘 On Liberty

John Stuart Mill’s classic 1859 essay, *On Liberty*, argues for individual freedom, democratic representation, and women’s rights within a utilitarian framework, shaping modern debates on liberty, civil rights, and political philosophy.

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.2 (9 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Γοργίας by 3070899|Πλάτων book cover

📘 Γοργίας

Plato’s dialogue ‘Gorgias’ explores the nature of rhetoric, love, and ethics through debate between Gorgias, Polus, and Callicles, illustrating early Greek philosophical thought.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.6 (7 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Utilitarianism by 902441|John Stuart Mill book cover

📘 Utilitarianism

A concise defense of utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill, presented with contextual introductions and supplementary appendices that trace its historical origins and critical reception.

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.2 (5 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Du contrat social by 7199233|Jean-Jacques Rousseau book cover

📘 Du contrat social

In *Du contrat social*, Rousseau argues that sovereign power belongs solely to the people and rejects the divine right of monarchs, laying the groundwork for modern political thought.

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.2 (4 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
A Letter Concerning Toleration by 12071127|John Locke book cover

📘 A Letter Concerning Toleration
 by John Locke

John Locke’s 1689 *A Letter Concerning Toleration* argues for religious freedom and tolerant governance amid fears of Catholic dominance in England.

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.0 (3 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Rights of Man by 7451365|Thomas Paine book cover

📘 Rights of Man

Thomas Paine's *Rights of Man* defends natural rights against Edmund Burke’s attacks on the French Revolution, arguing that rights derive from natural law rather than government.

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.7 (3 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Dei delitte e delle pene by 2560055|Cesare Beccaria book cover

📘 Dei delitte e delle pene

Book digitized by Google from the library of Oxford University and uploaded to the Internet Archive by user tpb.

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The works of John Locke by 12071127|John Locke book cover

📘 The works of John Locke
 by John Locke


★★★★★★★★★★ 4.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Aquinas by 8236068|Thomas Aquinas book cover

📘 Aquinas


★★★★★★★★★★ 5.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Two tracts on government by 12071127|John Locke book cover

📘 Two tracts on government
 by John Locke


★★★★★★★★★★ 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Political writings by 12071127|John Locke book cover

📘 Political writings
 by John Locke


★★★★★★★★★★ 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Two treatises on civil government by 12071127|John Locke book cover

📘 Two treatises on civil government
 by John Locke


★★★★★★★★★★ 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The Social Contract by 7199233|Jean-Jacques Rousseau book cover

📘 The Social Contract


★★★★★★★★★★ 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0

Some Other Similar Books

The Spirit of the Laws by Montesquieu
The Czech Idea and Its Communist Transformation by Karel Čapek
The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine
The Republican Thought of John Locke by J.G.A. Pocock

Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!

Please login to submit books!