Two Treatises Of John Locke

2578 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Features of state of nature john locke view

John Locke, a distinguished political thinker, is widely known for his avocation of “natural rights”. However, it is usually overlooked in what context, and why John Locke was saying these words. In one of his works, Two Treatises of Government Locke explains just what he meant by “natural rights” and the interplay of these rights with a structured government. Locke’s piece is split into Treatise One and Two; the first ‘book’ is essentially a dissent that attacks Patriarcha, which advocates the idea of divine right of kings or ‘patriarchalism’. Book Two however, includes Locke’s ideas on the state of nature and how humans have natural rights to certain things. The amalgamation of these two books asserts John Locke’s theory on the way life should …show more content…

First, to understand any of Locke’s arguments it’s essential to know what exactly he means by the state of nature. In Locke’s terms the state of nature is “That is a state of perfect freedom of acting and disposing of their own possessions and persons as they think fit within the bounds of the law of nature”(Locke). The definition continues to state that people in this state are equal and all power is reciprocal amongst the people. However, one key fact to keep in mind is that Locke makes a point to distinguish although the natural state of humanity does not have an institutionalized form of government that doesn’t necessarily mean the community is lawless. However, in this state no one has the political authority to dictate onto others, but everyone has the right to justice and punish others for breaking the laws in the state of nature. This is due to “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it” meaning no one has the right to harm another’s “life, health, liberty, or possessions”(Locke Ch. 1). This law of nature Locke put forth in order to prevent from what he calls a state of war, in which people experience aggression towards one and other and violate the laws of …show more content…

This is because Locke’s influence on American policy and laws. Although today, you don’t necessarily have to assert your own work onto a good to make it your own, even though that is true today. For example, this paper is my inherent good, because the thoughts are my labor on to this piece of paper. Therefore by adding my thoughts to the paper, the paper becomes my property. However, I disagree with Locke’s theory on excess. This comes from my personal bias because my environment is one that thrives on the unlimited wants of materialistic goods. So to think about just living with the bare minimum without having to seems foolish to

Show More
Related

  • John Locke's Second Treatise on Civil Government

    1358 Words  | 3 Pages

    a law made by God, called the Law of Reason. This law gives humankind liberty,

    Read More

  • Democratic Ideals of John Locke

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Second Treatise of Government John Locke characterizes the state of nature as one’s ability to live freely and abide solely to the laws of nature. Therefore, there is no such thing as private property, manmade laws, or a monarch. Locke continues to say that property is a communal commodity; where all humans have the right to own and work considering they consume in moderation without being wasteful. Civil and Political Societies are non-existent until one consents to the notion that they will adhere to the laws made by man, abide by the rules within the community, allow the ability to appoint men of power, and interact in the commerce circle for the sake of the populace. Locke goes further to state that this could be null in void if the governing body over extends their power for the gain of absolute rule. Here, Locke opens the conversation to one’s natural right to rebel against the governing body. I personally and whole heartily agree with Locke’s principles, his notion that all human beings have the natural right to freedoms and the authority to question their government on the basis that there civil liberties are being jeopardized.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of John Locke: The Second Treatise Of Government

    2379 Words  | 5 Pages

    John Locke is considered one of the best political minds of his time. The modern conception of western democracy and government can be attributed to his writing the Second Treatise of Government. John Locke championed many political notions that both liberals and conservatives hold close to their ideologies. He argues that political power should not be concentrated to one specific branch, and that there should be multiple branches in government. In addition to, the need for the government to run by the majority of the population through choosing leaders, at a time where the popular thing was to be under the rule of a monarch. But despite all of his political idea, one thing was extremely evident in his writing. This was that he preferred limited

    Read More

  • John Locke and the Enlightenment

    575 Words  | 2 Pages

    This paper is about John Locke who was a philosopher in the 17-century. He was an Englishmen and his ideas formed the basic concept for the government and laws, which later allowed colonist to justify revolution. I agree with what Locke is saying because everybody should be able to have their own freedom and still respect the freedom of other people. John said, “Individuals have rights, and their duties are defined in terms of protecting their own rights and respecting those of others”. This paper will present to you information about his enlightenment, personal information, and how we as people feel about his decisions.

    Read More

  • Property Theory In John Locke's Second Treatise On Government

    1097 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Locke’s Second Treatise on Government, he takes the view that human nature is a property acquiring creature and claims that in the state of nature humankind has property in his person and nobody has any right to but himself. Furthermore, Locke states that all property derives from our labour, the work that we put in to property and in return we gain title to that property. As a result, labour bestows value and essentially labour is the source of all values. Also Locke asserts that once title is obtained man can acquire unlimited property. In particular, Locke claims that the state of nature is given to all mankind in common and that property only becomes private property when we add our labour to it. In this

    Read More

  • John Locke's Second Treatise, Of Civil Government

    731 Words  | 2 Pages

    1. First of all, John Locke reminds the reader from where the right of political power comes from. He expands the idea by saying, “we must consider what estate all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit.” Locke believes in equality among all people. Since every creature on earth was created by God, no one has advantages over another. He makes a strong suggestion by saying, “that creatures of the same species and rank, should also be equal one amongst another, without subordination or subjection, unless the lord and master of them all should, by any manifest declaration of his will, set one above another, and confer on him, by an evident and clear appointment, an undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty.” For people to confirm the state of Nature, a law is set that obliges people to follow and consult it. The Law of Nature brings many things that need to be followed by each person. Locke describes the law’s consequences if not obeyed by saying, “the execution of the law of Nature is in that state put into every man’s hands, whereby every one has a right to punish the transgressors of that law to such a degree as may hinder its violation.” Every law is fair and equal to every person. As you have equal rights, you may also be punished equally if you don’t obey it.

    Read More

  • John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    John Locke published his Two Treatises of Government in 1690. In his writing Locke argued that individuals had the natural rights of life, liberty and property that the state could never be taken away because these rights were “inalienable.” The natural rights of individuals limited the power of the king. The king did not hold absolute power, but acted only to enforce and protect the natural rights of the people.

    Read More

  • John Locke and Thomas Hobbes

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    Locke believes that humans inherently possess complete and inalienable equality in the state of nature. “A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another; there being nothing more evident, than that creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages of nature, and the use of the same faculties, should also be equal one amongst another. ”2 Locke suggests that a civil government has an obligation to treat its citizens equally because humans are equal in the state of nature, and it would be both morally wrong and difficult to find willing subjects if they are denied equality under the government’s rules. authority.

    Read More

  • Locke, Hobbes, Mill, Thoreau

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    John Locke explains the state of nature as a state of equality in which no one has power over another, and all are free to do as they please. He notes, however, that this liberty does not equal license to abuse others, and that natural law exists even in the state of nature. Each individual in the state of nature has the power to execute natural laws, which are universal.

    Read More

  • Theory Of Property In John Locke's Second Treatise Of Government

    1562 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout John Locke’s, Second Treatise of Government, he uses several methods to substantiate his claims on the natural right to property. Locke’s view on property is one of the most fundamental and yet debated aspects of his works within his respective view on politics. Locke views property as one of humankind 's most important rights, contending with the right to life and the right to liberty. However, certain claims made by Locke regarding property are may be unfeasible, which could be deduced from the time period in which he lived. Some of Locke’s arguments appear to be carefully considered and well executed, while others lack the equality that Locke strives towards. John Locke’s theory of property, is a somewhat well supported claim

    Read More

  • On the Virtues of Private Property in Locke and Rousseau

    2220 Words  | 5 Pages

    John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau, following their predecessor Thomas Hobbes, both attempt to explain the development and dissolution of society and government. They begin, as Hobbes did, by defining the “state of nature”—a time before man found rational thought. In the Second Treatise[1] and the Discourse on Inequality[2], Locke and Rousseau, respectively, put forward very interesting and different accounts of the state of nature and the evolution of man, but the most astonishing difference between the two is their conceptions of property. Both correctly recognize the origin of property to be grounded in man’s natural desire to improve his life, but they differ in their description of the result of such a desire. Locke sees the need and purpose of society to protect property as something sacred to mankind, while Rousseau sees property as the cause of the corruption and eventual downfall of society. Although Rousseau raises interesting and applicable observations, Locke’s argument triumphs because he successfully shows the positive and essential effect of property on man.

    Read More

  • Locke and Rousseau

    1787 Words  | 4 Pages

    Locke and Rousseau present themselves as two very distinct thinkers. They both use similar terms, but conceptualize them differently to fulfill very different purposes. As such, one ought not be surprised that the two theorists do not understand liberty in the same way. Locke discusses liberty on an individual scale, with personal freedom being guaranteed by laws and institutions created in civil society. By comparison, Rousseau’s conception portrays liberty as an affair of the entire political community, and is best captured by the notion of self-rule. The distinctions, but also the similarities between Locke and Rousseau’s conceptions can be clarified by examining the role of liberty in each theorist’s proposed state of nature and civil society, the concepts with which each theorist associates liberty, and the means of ensuring and safeguarding liberty that each theorist devises.

    Read More

  • Locke State Of Nature Analysis

    1424 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this state of nature, according to Locke, men were born free and equal: free to do what they wished without being required to seek permission from any other man, and equal in the sense of there being no natural political authority of one man over another. He quickly points out, however, that "although it is a state of liberty, it is not a state of license," because it is ruled over by the law of nature which everyone is obliged to obey. While Locke is not very specific about the content of the law of nature, he is clear on a few specifics. First, that "reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it" and second, that it teaches primarily that "being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life liberty or possessions." Hence, right from the beginning, Locke places the right to possessions on the same level as the right to life, health, and liberty.

    Read More

  • John Locke's Liberty: Society Would Be Lost Under The System

    260 Words  | 1 Pages

    The liberty described by Locke would be lost under the system because people would inevitably have too much freedom, making the protection of property difficult. It becomes evident that laws are needed to protect the property of the people, and Locke seems to agree. This statement means that while people have obligations and freedoms that come from the state of nature, individuals also have obligations. Locke claims that government arose because of the instability of the state of nature, in which individuals and their property were under constant threat. He also asserts that individuals freely decided to give up some of their rights to a central authority, seeing that there were benefits in giving up some of their rights to gain something else.

    Read More

  • Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan and John Locke's Second Treatise of Government

    3013 Words  | 7 Pages

    The understanding of the state of nature is essential to both theorists’ discussions. For Hobbes, the state of nature is equivalent to a state of war. Locke’s description of the state of nature is more complex: initially the state of nature is one of “peace, goodwill, mutual assistance and preservation”. Transgressions against the law of nature, or reason which “teaches mankind that all being equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty and possessions,” are but few. The state of nature, according to Locke’s Treatise, consists of the society of man, distinct from political society, live together without any superior authority to restrict and judge their actions. It is when man begins to acquire property that the state of nature becomes somewhat less peaceful.

    Read More

More about Two Treatises Of John Locke

Open Document