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Pateman On Locke. ... To accurately discuss Pateman's view of Locke's paternal/patriarchal
theory, a working knowledge of the theory itself is necessary. ...
Pateman On Locke. ... To accurately discuss Pateman's view of Locke's paternal/patriarchal
theory, a working knowledge of the theory itself is necessary. ...
... Machiavelli, Selected Political Writings Hobbes, Leviathan Locke, Second Treatise ...
Shanley, Mary Lyndon and Carole Pateman, eds., Feminist Interpretations and ...
... and justice only refers to the relationships between families (Pateman, 1980:
22-4 ... In this situation, John Locke believed that the "family was not capable of ...
Submitted by oppapers on May 11, 2000
Category: Miscellaneous
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For years social contract theorists had monopolized the explanation of modern
society. John Locke was among those who advocated this theory of a collectively
chosen set of circumstances. Carole Pateman, on the other hand rejects many of the
pillars of the social contract and specifically attacks certain aspects of Locke's argument
regarding paternalism and patriarchy. Pateman defends her idea that the individual about
which Locke writes is masculine, instead of the gender-encompassing form of the word
"man." Pateman also argues that Locke denies the individuality of women. Instead of
scrapping his entire work, however, she grants him a couple of concessions, even
acknowledging Locke as anti-patriarchal. If John Locke were around to defend his
theories, he would probably have an opinion about the treatment of his work.
To accurately discuss Pateman's view of Locke's paternal/patriarchal theory, a
working knowledge of the theory itself is necessary. According to Locke "all men by
nature are equal"(Second Treatise: 43) with the exception of children who have not
reached the full state of equality, but must obey their parents. Domestic and political
power is vested in the Father, according to Locke. As he puts it, "the natural fathers of
families, by an insensible change, became the politic monarchs of them too."(Second
Treatise: 42) Locke does not reserve domestic power regarding children solely to the
Father, however. Instead he claims that the mother "hath an equal title."(Second
Treatise: 30) He even defends the rights of children. Locke argues that children have the
same moral rights as any other person, though the child's inadequate mental faculties
make it permissible for his parents to rule over him to a limited degree. "Thus we are
born Free, as we are born Rational; not that we have actually the Exercise of...
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