How can human beings know anything at all? How should they attempt to live their lives? Locke generally sought to answer these questions during his intellectual life (Dunn, 2003). Through the course of this essay, we will consider, what the state of nature is from Locke’s perspective and how this is so vastly different from Hobbes, what are the so-called ‘problems’ contained in the state of nature according to Locke, what are Locke’s reasons for leaving the state of nature, and finally what are the consequences of this on the new political society that emerges out of the state of nature. Subsequently, Locke challenges Hobbes, developing a different version of the state of nature that provides grounds for government by consent of the people and the protection of natural rights.
In addition, …show more content…
Notably, Aaron (1955, pg. 273 cited in Ashcraft, 1968) highlights if Locke did intend his portrayal of the state of nature to serve as a checklist for what the origins of government should look like, it is a confusing checklist. This pre-political society that Locke establishes is not mirrored by most pre-political societies. As one writer puts it, "history and sociology lend but little support to this theory of free men entering a compact and so creating a political group” (Aaron 1955, pg. 273 cited in Ashcraft, 1968). Dunn (2003) considers the most important rights Locke believes we obtain in the state of nature, for example, the right to hold to account the person who infringes or breaks this natural law, and punishing them appropriately for this. Locke claims that in this state of nature all persons are free, equal, and independent (II. 4-6 cited in Lloyd Thomas, 1995). They are not necessarily free due to the fact that they cannot disregard natural law. Within the state of nature people are confined to do only what the law of nature permits of them (Lloyd Thomas,
In addition, …show more content…
Notably, Aaron (1955, pg. 273 cited in Ashcraft, 1968) highlights if Locke did intend his portrayal of the state of nature to serve as a checklist for what the origins of government should look like, it is a confusing checklist. This pre-political society that Locke establishes is not mirrored by most pre-political societies. As one writer puts it, "history and sociology lend but little support to this theory of free men entering a compact and so creating a political group” (Aaron 1955, pg. 273 cited in Ashcraft, 1968). Dunn (2003) considers the most important rights Locke believes we obtain in the state of nature, for example, the right to hold to account the person who infringes or breaks this natural law, and punishing them appropriately for this. Locke claims that in this state of nature all persons are free, equal, and independent (II. 4-6 cited in Lloyd Thomas, 1995). They are not necessarily free due to the fact that they cannot disregard natural law. Within the state of nature people are confined to do only what the law of nature permits of them (Lloyd Thomas,