John Locke's Where There Is No Property, There Is No Justice

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The quote “Where there is no property, there is no justice” reflects the immense amount of weight John Locke places on property when developing his arguments in the Second Treatise of Government. Similar to Hobbes, Locke believed that there was a State of Nature and a State of War. However, contrary to Hobbes, Locke did not equate the two states, Locke believed that the State of Nature was habitable, but the State of War was “a sedate settled design upon another man’s life,” (pg.14); making it unbearable. Furthermore, in a State of Nature, Locke believed that man had the inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and Property and under certain conditions these rights could be maintained in a State of Nature. However when man entered a new age, such rights are no as easily maintained; entering man into a State of War. …show more content…

He uses property and it’s elements of labour, money and consent to unveil that a limited government can direct man out of the State of War and into a peaceful and democratic society. Locke begins his argument by defining the origin and legitimacy of property. In doing so, he must demonstrate that the common property given to man by God can become private property “without any express compact of all the commoners.” (pg.18). He starts of by establishing “that God gave the world to Adam, and his posterity in common,” (pg.18). However, reason then guides man towards self preservation (Law of Nature) and for man to achieve self preservation he must use labour as a means of appropriation. To do so, man must use his physical and mental

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