Second Treatise of Government

by

John Locke

Sir Robert Filmer Character Analysis

A 17th-century English political theorist. Locke mentions Filmer in the preface to the Second Treatise of Government and refers to Filmer’s 1680 book, Patriarcha, in which Filmer advocates for absolute monarchies and the divine right of kings. Locke vehemently rejects absolute monarchies and the divine right of kings, and he claims Filmer’s book is full of “doubtful expressions” and “glib nonsense.” Locke also disagrees with Filmer’s argument that God gave Adam dominion over the world and an innate right of fatherhood, and that Adam’s descendants have a right to rule humankind. Locke considers Filmer’s argument of the descendants of Adam absurd and maintains there is no way to prove such ancestry after so many years. Furthermore, Locke argues that Adam never had such power and, even if he did, said power would not transfer to his descendants. Locke uses his Two Treatise of Government—the First Treatise more so than the Second Treatise—to refute Sir Robert Filmer’s ideas.

Sir Robert Filmer Quotes in Second Treatise of Government

The Second Treatise of Government quotes below are all either spoken by Sir Robert Filmer or refer to Sir Robert Filmer. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
).
Preface Quotes

I imagine, I shall have neither the time, nor inclination to repeat my pains, and fill up the wanting part of my answer, by tracing Sir Robert again, through all the windings and obscurities, which are to be met with in the several branches of his wonderful system. The king, and body of the nation, have since so thoroughly confuted his Hypothesis, that I suppose no body hereafter will have either the confidence to appear against our common safety, and be again an advocate for slavery; or the weakness to be deceived with contradictions dressed up in a popular stile, and well-turned periods: for if any one will be at the pains, himself, in those parts, which are here untouched, to strip Sir Robert's discourses of the flourish of doubtful expressions, and endeavour to reduce his words to direct, positive, intelligible propositions, and then compare them one with another, he will quickly be satisfied, there was never so much glib nonsense put together in well-sounding English.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker), Sir Robert Filmer
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: Of Paternal Power Quotes

The freedom of a man at years of discretion, and the subjection of a child to his parents, whilst yet short of that age, are so consistent, and so distinguishable, that the most blinded contenders for monarchy, by right of fatherhood, cannot miss this difference; the most obstinate cannot but allow their consistency: for were their doctrine all true, were the right heir of Adam now known, and by that title settled a monarch in his throne, invested with all the absolute unlimited power Sir Robert Filmer talks of; if he should die as soon as his heir were born, must not the child, notwithstanding he were never so free, never so much sovereign, be in subjection to his mother and nurse, to tutors and governors, till age and education brought him reason and ability to govern himself and others?

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker), Sir Robert Filmer
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis:
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Sir Robert Filmer Quotes in Second Treatise of Government

The Second Treatise of Government quotes below are all either spoken by Sir Robert Filmer or refer to Sir Robert Filmer. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
).
Preface Quotes

I imagine, I shall have neither the time, nor inclination to repeat my pains, and fill up the wanting part of my answer, by tracing Sir Robert again, through all the windings and obscurities, which are to be met with in the several branches of his wonderful system. The king, and body of the nation, have since so thoroughly confuted his Hypothesis, that I suppose no body hereafter will have either the confidence to appear against our common safety, and be again an advocate for slavery; or the weakness to be deceived with contradictions dressed up in a popular stile, and well-turned periods: for if any one will be at the pains, himself, in those parts, which are here untouched, to strip Sir Robert's discourses of the flourish of doubtful expressions, and endeavour to reduce his words to direct, positive, intelligible propositions, and then compare them one with another, he will quickly be satisfied, there was never so much glib nonsense put together in well-sounding English.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker), Sir Robert Filmer
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: Of Paternal Power Quotes

The freedom of a man at years of discretion, and the subjection of a child to his parents, whilst yet short of that age, are so consistent, and so distinguishable, that the most blinded contenders for monarchy, by right of fatherhood, cannot miss this difference; the most obstinate cannot but allow their consistency: for were their doctrine all true, were the right heir of Adam now known, and by that title settled a monarch in his throne, invested with all the absolute unlimited power Sir Robert Filmer talks of; if he should die as soon as his heir were born, must not the child, notwithstanding he were never so free, never so much sovereign, be in subjection to his mother and nurse, to tutors and governors, till age and education brought him reason and ability to govern himself and others?

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker), Sir Robert Filmer
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis: