Chapter XV

Locke argues that recent mistakes about government stem from confusing paternal, political, and despotical powers, making it necessary to examine them together to clarify the distinctions.

Paternal power is parental authority over children until they reach the age of reason, aimed at their instruction and preservation, not arbitrary rule.

God's implantation of affection in parents shows paternal power is benevolent and temporary, not extending to life and death or persisting after children reach adulthood.

Political power originates from individuals giving up their natural powers to society through compact, to be used for the preservation of life, liberty, and property.

Political power in nature involves using means to preserve one's property and punishing breaches of natural law; magistrates hold this power with the same measure and must not be absolute.

Political power derives its legitimacy solely from compact and mutual consent of those constituting the community.

Despotical power is the absolute, arbitrary power one man may hold over another's life, existing only through natural forfeiture when an aggressor initiates war.

Despotical power originates neither from nature nor from compact, since no man has arbitrary power over his own life to transfer to another.

Despotical power results only from forfeiture when an aggressor abandons reason and initiates war, rendering himself liable to destruction as a dangerous beast.

Only captives taken in just war are subject to despotical power, and this power ceases when a captive enters into compact and becomes master of his own life.

Nature grants paternal power to parents for children's benefit during minority; voluntary agreement grants political power to governors for subjects' benefit; forfeiture grants despotical power to masters over those without property.

Examining the origins and extents of these powers reveals that paternal power falls far short of magistrate power while despotical exceeds it, and absolute dominion is incompatible with civil society.

Paternal power applies where children lack capacity to manage property; political power where men possess property; despotical power over those entirely stripped of property.