John Locke and the Theory of Sovereignty: Mixed Monarchy and the Right of Resistance in the Political Thought of the English Revolution

by Julian H. Franklin

• ISBN13: 9780521285476
• ISBN10: 052128547X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1981-10-30
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This volume is a sequel to the author's earlier work on the development of European theories of sovereignity and constitutionalism. Professor Franklin here explains a major innovation associated with the English Civil Wars. It was only now, he shows, that there finally emerged a theory of sovereignity and resistance that was fully compatible with a mixed constitution. The new conception of resistance in a mixed constitution was to enter the main tradition via Locke, who stood alone among major writers of the 1680s in holding that the effect of tyranny by any constituted power, even by the King alone, was entire dissolution of the government and the reversion of power to the general community. When this familiar position is read against the background of preceding constitutionalist theory, the Second Treatise reveals a new dimension of novelty and historical significance.

Table of Contents

Preface

The background of the problem

The Parliamentary publicists

George Lawson

Locke and the Whigs

On the dating of Lawson's theoretical insight into dissolution

Locke and Burnet

Bibliography

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.