Contractarianism Versus Holism: Reinterpreting Locke's Two Treatises of Government

John Locke's political thought, as stated in his Two Treatises of Government is comprehensively reinterpreted in this concise work. Rau intentionally avoids a conventional analysis of the historical background and the internal disputes of Locke scholarship. Instead, his analysis is deeply rooted in the classical liberal tradition and casts the enterprise in the theoretically significant terms of 20th century political and ideological dilemmas. Attempting to recast contemporary understanding of Locke's political doctrine, the book examines its conceptual dimension in relation to the alternative doctrine of his opponent, Robert Filmer. Considering the whole body of their controversy, it explores each of their systems and the manner in which their controversy transcends its antiquarian appeal, echoing contemporary debates in social and political theory. The book presents their controversy in terms of a clash between methodological individualism-cum-contractarianism and holism while discussing the main issues of political theory including property, civil society, consent, legitimacy, government, and resistance.