Thursday 3 January 2013

Locke's State of Nature

Claims of the SoN:

'A State of perfect Freedom' - everyone has free will with 'actions', 'possessions' and 'persons' within a Law of Nature which is aspects of nature that constrain us from doing things such as gravity. (Not manmade but from reason. Stops us from doing wrong.

Equality in abilities/'faculties'- no higher leader/'subordination'. Only when God chooses someone will there be. 'Declaration of his Will set one above another'.

Not a 'State of Licence'/where anything goes. People cannot harm others in 'life, health, liberty or possessions'.


Hobbes and Locke differences..

Equality - Hobbes: In terms of power/strength. No-one free from harm (Fight for Glory). Locke: in terms of abilities/faculties. No high leader except God.

Liberty/freedom - Hobbes: Freedom to protect life 'anything goes'. Free to be violent. Locke: Freedom to do what you want but not a 'state of licence'.

Natural Law - Hobbes: Natural right to protect life. Conflicts with everyone else. Locke: 'Law of Nature' stops people from doing wrong. Everyone has innate morals.

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