The section I will be deconstructing and laying out Locke’s argument on the state of nature. This section is chapter two on pages 8 to 10, entitled “Of the state of Nature.”
Locke begins by asserting that to understand political power right, we must “derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.” What Locke means by this is that we must understand the natural state of man, which leads to his definition of the state of nature man exists in a pre-governmental state. Men in this state are inherently equal, equal to any and everything in the natural world, Locke proclaims this as the “state of equality.” Because of this equal access, there is reciprocal power and jurisdiction over all. In the description of the state of nature, Locke depicts this state of man as a state of “mutual love.” This way he portrays the state of nature as a glorious state inhabited by reasoned men, that reason is god-given, and from there moral coding inherently guided by this state of liberty in which one can dispose of his person or possessions but not himself and not harm others. Because we are reasoned men, we have reasonable capacity to understand that we ought not harm one another, and pursue peace. From this state of nature, Locke begins to paint this portrait of the state of nature with elaboration of the laws of nature. The laws of nature include “being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker.” Locke also highlights his fairly obvious affiliation to common christian values, and uses that to answer the question of what his premise of a “moral” coding really is. Locke seems to extrapolate fundamental elements of Hobbes version of the law of nature. Hobbes emphasizes the right to self-preserve as the primary natural right and the right to preserve others and promote peace as an aspect of natural law, and similarly we can see Locke doing the same thing, except with more nuanced reasoning with inclusion of values of fairness and stronger emphasis on property (via reference to possessions). With the fundamental law of nature to not harm others, there lies the step of enforcing said law of nature, which is in itself a right. At the bottom of page 9, we can see that we not only have an obligation to abide the law of nature, but to enforce said law of nature. This leaves room for discussion of “punishment,” especially if we are discussing things regarding execution of a law. We may have the right to enforce the law of nature in the state of nature, but how do we do this? We all have equal right, but how do we arbitrate disputes impartially? Thus comes the problem of the state of nature, because “every man hath a right to punish the offender, and be executioner of the law of nature.” By this logic, every man has ultimate power, by differing conceptions of human capability and boundaries, and everyone has power over others. At the end of page 10 we can see Locke pointing out the Hobbesian reasoning behind formulation of society, or a commonwealth and sovereign. Locke points out that individuals in the state of nature are men without authority, but for a different reason other than security and protection. Locke assumes security and protection and jumps straight to arbitration of disputes, implying that this impartial deliberator can be created by society (also hinted through reference to “legislative authority”) when mutually consented towards. Locke also brings up a very important analogy in reference to arbitrating disputes, Locke notes that a person violating law in a foreign country is still accountable for his actions and must pend for punishment, because he vioalted their law. Same thing in the state of nature, man must still be held accountable.
And that’s it in my section.
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