In the Second Treatise of Government, John Locke believes that in order to understand political power correctly, one must acknowledge that men by nature are free and equal because they were born with the faculty of reasoning. Locke argues that men have natural rights to liberty, freedom, and property. Men in the state of nature automatically possess liberty and freedom; however, their right to ownership of property is earned through labor. Even though men are equal and free in a state of nature they do not have the right to impinge on others because natural law exists. Natural law should be used as a guide. However it should not restrain humans in any way.
The State of Nature created by Locke is a mythos, a theoretical concept or a thought …show more content…
Locke writes, “God, who hath given the world to men in common, hath also given them reason to make use of it to the best advantage of life, and convenience. The earth, and all that is therein, is given to men for the support and comfort of their being” (18). God gave man the earth filled with fruits to be used for their survival. According to Locke, the American Indians were not civilized because they did not utilize nature. They were not using reasoning. Nature is meant to be used to give humans a better living. The idea of nature being used and owning property coincides with the idea of having reason and being civilized because only rational people put labor into nature (something) allowing them to have ownership. Ownership is created by people it is not simply given. Locke …show more content…
One issue with the state of nature was that people were free to do as they pleased, but they were not protected. In this state the righteousness of individuals could not be easily be enforced; there is the possibility that people will try to steal the birthright of others. Some individuals in the state chose not to obey the natural law. Locke writes, “And that all men may be restrained from invading others rights, and from doing hurt to one another, and the law of nature be observed, which willeth the peace and preservation of all mankind, the execution of the law of nature is, in that state, put into every man’s hands, whereby everyone has a right to punish the transgressors of that law to such a degree” to express the idea that people had the right to enforce the natural law by punishing individuals who chooses to violate it (9). Therefore, government is needed to enforce justice. Laws are needed to regulate society and protect the natural rights of the people. Laws stop people from impinging on others, affecting their quality of
The State of Nature created by Locke is a mythos, a theoretical concept or a thought …show more content…
Locke writes, “God, who hath given the world to men in common, hath also given them reason to make use of it to the best advantage of life, and convenience. The earth, and all that is therein, is given to men for the support and comfort of their being” (18). God gave man the earth filled with fruits to be used for their survival. According to Locke, the American Indians were not civilized because they did not utilize nature. They were not using reasoning. Nature is meant to be used to give humans a better living. The idea of nature being used and owning property coincides with the idea of having reason and being civilized because only rational people put labor into nature (something) allowing them to have ownership. Ownership is created by people it is not simply given. Locke …show more content…
One issue with the state of nature was that people were free to do as they pleased, but they were not protected. In this state the righteousness of individuals could not be easily be enforced; there is the possibility that people will try to steal the birthright of others. Some individuals in the state chose not to obey the natural law. Locke writes, “And that all men may be restrained from invading others rights, and from doing hurt to one another, and the law of nature be observed, which willeth the peace and preservation of all mankind, the execution of the law of nature is, in that state, put into every man’s hands, whereby everyone has a right to punish the transgressors of that law to such a degree” to express the idea that people had the right to enforce the natural law by punishing individuals who chooses to violate it (9). Therefore, government is needed to enforce justice. Laws are needed to regulate society and protect the natural rights of the people. Laws stop people from impinging on others, affecting their quality of