Reading Journal

locke.ppt

Locke
1632-1704

Life and times

The state of nature

Individual equality
Liberty
Governed by laws of nature
This may sound like Hobbes, but Locke builds a rich normative complex into his state of nature

Where Locke differs from Hobbes

In Locke’s state of nature, there are, built into it, normative constraints (e.g., ‘no one ought to harm another’) that we don’t find in Hobbes
This raises serious concerns about the nature of his contractarian argument--in particular its strength

There law in the state of nature

Is exercised by free individuals, each of whom exercise executive power
That is, each has individual has moral authority to take action to rectify injustice, but, according to Locke, such retribution may only fit the crime
(Yet another example of the normative richness of Locke’s state of nature)

The state of nature vs. the state of war

For Locke, a state of nature is when people, of good will, live without a superior authority
That is, the state of nature is a mere privation of legitimate state authority
On the other hand, a state of war is a declared design of force upon another person or persons, where there is no superior authority
According to Locke, Hobbes has confused war with its prerequisite

Property

Foundation of property rights:
The property one has as one’s own body
The labor of that body
Hence anything that one has removed from its natural state and mixed one’s labor with, becomes the property of the person

The proviso

The right to property, either as an acquisition or as a transfer, is limited by this proviso
In any acquisition, or transfer, or purchase, one’s property is constrained by the requirement that there be ‘as good and enough’ left over

The ends of government

Guaranteeing property rights

The extent of legislative power