In Two Treatises of Government, John Locke argues that all humans are naturally free and equal, possessing inherent rights that exist prior to government. Locke begins by attacking the theory of divine-right monarchy, particularly the claim that political authority originates from the biblical authority of Adam and passes down to kings. He contends that there is no biblical or rational basis for absolute monarchy, and that attempts to justify it rely on unsupported assumptions.
Locke proposes instead that humans exist originally in a state of nature, where they are free but governed by natural law, which requires individuals to respect the life, liberty, and property of others. Because enforcing these rights individually can lead to conflict and insecurity, people collectively create governments through a social contract. The purpose of government is therefore limited: it exists only to protect natural rights.
If a government violates these rights—by becoming tyrannical or ruling without consent—citizens retain the right to resist or replace it. Political authority is therefore legitimate only when it rests on the consent of the governed, not divine inheritance or hereditary rule.
Overall, Locke’s argument reframes political legitimacy: rights belong to individuals by nature, and governments derive authority from the people they govern, not from God-ordained rulers.