Keyword Guide · study-guide-general
This guide focuses on the section of John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government that outlines core principles of the state of nature and individual liberty. It is designed for students preparing class discussions, short response quizzes, or argumentative essays on early modern political thought. No prior philosophy background is required to use the materials below.
Chapter 2 of the Second Treatise of Government lays out Locke’s definition of the state of nature, the pre-political condition where all people are free and equal under natural law. Section 13 specifically addresses limits to individual freedom in the state of nature, clarifying that liberty does not equal license to harm others or violate their natural rights. Use this framing to anchor your initial notes on the section.
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Section 13 of Second Treatise of Government Chapter 2 is a key passage that distinguishes between legitimate natural liberty and unjustified harm. It explains that even in the absence of a formal government, people are bound by natural law to respect the life, health, liberty, and property of others. This section also establishes the right of all people to enforce natural law when others violate it, as long as enforcement is proportional to the harm done.
Next step: Write a 1-sentence paraphrase of this core definition in your own words to reinforce your understanding.
Action: Look up 1-sentence definitions of natural law, state of nature, and social contract to use as reference
Output: A 3-item glossary taped to the inside of your notebook for quick recall
Action: Mark Section 13 with three types of annotations: main claim, evidence for the claim, and unanswered questions
Output: An annotated copy of the text with color-coded notes for each category
Action: Compare your interpretation of Section 13 to one of the key takeaways listed in this guide
Output: A 2-sentence note explaining where your interpretation aligns or differs from the takeaway
Essay Builder
Make sure your essay meets your teacher’s rubric requirements before you turn it in.
Action: Read Section 13 once, then write down the main claim, 2 supporting reasons Locke gives, and 1 implicit assumption he relies on
Output: A 3-part argument map you can use for quick review before quizzes or discussions
Action: List 2 ways the ideas in Section 13 appear in other texts or historical events you have covered in class, such as the Declaration of Independence
Output: A 2-item connection list that will help you answer cross-text essay questions
Action: Pick one discussion question from the kit, draft a response, and add one specific example from Section 13 to support your point
Output: A 3-sentence response you can share verbally or turn in as a short participation assignment
Teacher looks for: Demonstration that you understand the explicit claims Locke makes in Section 13, without misstating his definitions of liberty, natural law, or the state of nature
How to meet it: Paraphrase Locke’s core claims in your own words, and reference specific ideas from Section 13 to support your answers, rather than relying on generic summaries of his thought
Teacher looks for: Ability to explain how Section 13 fits into the larger argument of Chapter 2 and the Second Treatise as a whole, rather than treating it as an isolated passage
How to meet it: Add one sentence to every response that connects Section 13 to another part of Locke’s argument, such as his later discussion of social contract or property rights
Teacher looks for: Willingness to engage with strengths and flaws in Locke’s argument, rather than just summarizing his ideas without critique
How to meet it: Include one specific counterpoint to Locke’s claims in every analytical response, such as noting that his argument for equal natural law enforcement ignores structural power imbalances
Chapter 2 of the Second Treatise of Government is the first full section where Locke lays out his theory of the state of nature, the pre-political condition that exists before people form a formal government. This chapter is written as a response to arguments for absolute monarchy, which claimed kings had unlimited authority over their subjects. Use this context to help you understand why Locke emphasizes individual freedom and limits on power in Section 13.
Section 13 clarifies a common misinterpretation of Locke’s state of nature: that without government, people have absolute freedom to do whatever they want. Locke rejects this view, stating that natural liberty only allows people to act within the bounds of natural law, which prohibits harm to others or to themselves. Write down one example of an action Locke would consider legitimate in the state of nature, and one action he would consider illegitimate.
Section 13 also establishes that all people have equal authority to enforce natural law in the state of nature. If someone steals your property or harms your person, you have the right to punish them, as long as the punishment is proportional to the harm done. This principle is the core reason Locke argues people eventually choose to form a government: to create a neutral third party that can enforce laws fairly without individual bias. Jot down one potential problem with allowing all people to enforce natural law on their own.
If you have a scheduled discussion on Chapter 2, start with the 20-minute plan to prepare a clear, evidence-based response to share. Review the common mistakes list to avoid misinterpreting Locke’s argument in front of your class. Bring one question from the discussion kit that you want to ask your teacher or peers to guide the conversation.
If you are writing an essay on Locke’s political thought, use the thesis templates and outline skeletons to structure your argument before you start writing. Reference the rubric block to make sure you meet your teacher’s expectations for recall, analysis, and critical evaluation. Add at least one connection between Section 13 and another part of the Second Treatise to strengthen your argument.
The ideas in Section 13 appear in many foundational modern political documents, including the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Locke’s emphasis on limited government and individual natural rights shaped the development of liberal democratic systems across the world. List one modern law or policy that you think reflects the principles Locke outlines in Section 13.
The main point is to distinguish between natural liberty, the right to act within the bounds of natural law, and license, the unjustified freedom to harm others or violate their rights. It also establishes that all people have equal authority to enforce natural law in the state of nature.
Section 13 lays the moral foundation for Locke’s later argument about social contract. If people have natural rights and the ability to enforce them, they only give up that enforcement power to a government that agrees to protect their rights. If a government fails to do that, people have the right to dissolve it.
While you can understand the basic argument of Section 13 on its own, reading the rest of Chapter 2 will help you see how it fits into Locke’s broader definition of the state of nature and natural law. The sections immediately before and after Section 13 give important context for his claims about individual freedom.
A common mistake is assuming Locke’s state of nature is the same as Thomas Hobbes’ description of a violent, chaotic war of all against all. Locke’s state of nature is a moral order governed by natural law, so individual freedom is limited by the requirement to respect other people’s rights.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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