Plato’s thoughts on private property are contradictory because he believes that property should be both private and public at the same time. Plato believes that all people should have some private property, but “no one will possess any private property except for what’s entirely necessary” (Republic, 416e). Plato recognizes that people should have some form of private property in the form of housing because everyone in the perfect city will have a home, but that the amount of private property afforded to each resident, be limited to what’s necessary for the individual to have a positive impact on the city as a whole. The city will provide the private property for its residents. However, Plato appears to contradict himself when he stipulates
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Private property is established when someone has “Mixed his labor with, and joined to it, something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property” (Second Treatise, 288). People gain private property by utilizing that property for their own benefit. Furthermore, Locke believes the only way that people separate from their natural freedoms, and join “civil society is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community, for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another, in a secure enjoyment of their properties” (Second Treatise, 331). Locke is not only concerned with the ownership of property, but also in the quality of living that people have. While the only reason that people leave the state of nature is to ensure the protection of their private property, they are also ensuring a happier life. This links with Aristotle as he was also concerned with the happiness within society. In contrast with Plato and Hobbes, Locke does not believe that the government allocates land to the …show more content…
Rousseau believes that “every man by nature has a right to everything he need” (The Social Contract, 168). One thing that every man needs is property. However, “The right of first occupant… does not become a true right until after the establishment of the right of property” (The Social Contract, 168). People do not have a right to a piece of land until the right to own land has been erected, and this right must be established by the sovereign. Furthermore, when claiming land, there are rules that people must adhere to. The first rule is that the ““Land may not already be occupied by anyone” (The Social Contract, 168). This means that an invading force cannot take land away from the inhabitants who are already there. In addition, land cannot be claimed through ceremonial processes such as purchasing of land. Instead, “One is to take possession of [land]... by working and cultivating it” (The Social Contract, 168). Land can only be claimed through the utilization of resources within the land. Rousseau also believes in limiting how much land someone can have because “No one may occupy more than the amount needed to subsist” (The Social Contract, 168). Just like Hobbes and Plato, Rousseau believes in limiting how much land any individual can own to the amount of land needed to provide for oneself and one’s
Private property is established when someone has “Mixed his labor with, and joined to it, something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property” (Second Treatise, 288). People gain private property by utilizing that property for their own benefit. Furthermore, Locke believes the only way that people separate from their natural freedoms, and join “civil society is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community, for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another, in a secure enjoyment of their properties” (Second Treatise, 331). Locke is not only concerned with the ownership of property, but also in the quality of living that people have. While the only reason that people leave the state of nature is to ensure the protection of their private property, they are also ensuring a happier life. This links with Aristotle as he was also concerned with the happiness within society. In contrast with Plato and Hobbes, Locke does not believe that the government allocates land to the …show more content…
Rousseau believes that “every man by nature has a right to everything he need” (The Social Contract, 168). One thing that every man needs is property. However, “The right of first occupant… does not become a true right until after the establishment of the right of property” (The Social Contract, 168). People do not have a right to a piece of land until the right to own land has been erected, and this right must be established by the sovereign. Furthermore, when claiming land, there are rules that people must adhere to. The first rule is that the ““Land may not already be occupied by anyone” (The Social Contract, 168). This means that an invading force cannot take land away from the inhabitants who are already there. In addition, land cannot be claimed through ceremonial processes such as purchasing of land. Instead, “One is to take possession of [land]... by working and cultivating it” (The Social Contract, 168). Land can only be claimed through the utilization of resources within the land. Rousseau also believes in limiting how much land someone can have because “No one may occupy more than the amount needed to subsist” (The Social Contract, 168). Just like Hobbes and Plato, Rousseau believes in limiting how much land any individual can own to the amount of land needed to provide for oneself and one’s