Introduction to Political Philosophy

Locke on Private Property

As you read the material for the next class, keep the questions below in mind. To answer these questions you will have to reflect critically on what you have read and possibly re-read important passages. Keep in mind that there are two basic kinds of information that you need to look for in the readings.

  1. What are the main points or conclusions that an author accepts with respect to a particular issue?
  2. What are the reasons or important considerations that lead the author to accept that conclusion?

For our purposes, it is information of the latter sort (2) that will be our primary concern since our most basic task is to evaluate the reasons that are offered to support accepting one possible conclusion about an issue, rather than another. Although I strongly suggest that you write out brief answers to these questions, you do not have to turn in written responses. You do, however, need to be prepared to speak intelligently to these issues in the next class meeting.

Reading:

  • John Locke, Second Treatise of Government (Sections 1-73), pp. 7-40.

Questions:

  1. At the beginning of Chapter II, Locke presents some grounding assumptions that will drive the rest of his account. These are also seen again in Chapters IV and VI. Namely, he claims that people are naturally free, equal, and independent. What does Locke mean by these and how does he justify them?
  2. What exactly is the “law of nature” that Locke repeatedly refers to throughout chapters II though VI? What does it require?
  3. According to Locke’s argument in Chapter II, under what circumstances is punishment permissible? Why? Why does punishment already imply the need for a civil government?
  4. In Chapter III, Locke distinguishes between the state of nature and the state of war. What are these and why are they different?
  5. In Chapter IV, how is there a right to private property in the state of nature, given the fact that Locke says that initially, at least, all things are held in common to all mankind? How does labor justify private property?
  6. What limits does Locke place on private property? Back in 1701, why couldn’t I just have built a fence around Montana and claimed it all as my own property?

 

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