What Does Locke Mean In Chapter 6

Locke begins chapter six by saying that men suggest that all of the parental power is established in the fathers, but that the mothers have equal say in matters. He gives proof of this by quoting one of the commandments, Honor thy father and thy mother. Because of this, Locke says that a monarchy should rule the same as parents, together and with equal authority. One man should not have all the power. He does recognize that while he says all men are equal, that men who are older and more experienced give a man more authority over someone who is not. Children are born to be equal, but while they are children they are not equal to their superiors. The children have to grow and become more knowledgeable before they can become superior and then
Locke says that to be in a political society, you must voluntarily do so. Once this society is created, it is important to run the society by majority rule. Majority rule, or democracy is the only fair way to rule a society full of free men. Locke acknowledges that no society has willingly come together, and that most men are born into a society that they stick with because that is what they were born into. There are no objections to it and men barely think about it. Locke refers back to chapter six, again saying that most societies were under monarchical rule, but a few were not. He brings this up to point out the fact that most historical societies still chose their leader. Because of parental authority when growing up, men are used to being ruled by another and they allow that tradition to continue in a political society. The men in any given society ultimately decided that this was the best for everyone. Locke goes back to address the point he made previously of men continuing to live in one society because that is the way they were born. He gives examples of men leaving these societies and creating their own. Locke discusses that men give their consent to these societies and only follow the laws because they want to. Men understand that at any given point they are allowed to leave and no longer be subject to that societies