Second Treatise Of Government By John Locke Chapter 1 Summary

In Chapter 5 of John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, Locke justifies the existence to private property. Locke starts the chapter off with a big picture. He introduces the idea that earth and everything on it belongs to all men, and God hand it to us in hopes that we use “reason to make use of it to the best advantage of life, and convenience” (§26 pp.18). With our given ability to reason and our right to preserve ourselves, God trust that we can utilize the common stock and make the world a better place. This brings us to the main question of the essay, if “nobody had originally a private dominion, exclusive of the rest of mankind” (§26, pp.18-19) over anything in nature, then how does Locke explain the existence of property? Initially,
You are deciding to mix your labor with, and combine the state of nature with yourself, therefore justifying private property. Locke believes that labor becomes property because basic raw materials are worthless; that mankind puts value on them through purpose. We use our natural reasoning when we decide to pick the apple because we can use it to our advantage. We can use the apples from the tree to make apple pie, juice, or simply to feed our cravings, this act is essential because it is the reason why we obtain anything from nature. But for the apple to be rightfully yours, without question, there must be “enough, and as good, left in common for others” (§27 pp.19). Locke believes that labor only creates property when there is enough left for others. You may only acquire as many things in this way (through labor) as you can reasonably use to your advantage. To continue with the apple example, there has to be other equally good apples in the tree so others could use their labor to gain, in order for you to pursue it as property. It is attainable “as much as anyone can make use of to any advantage of life before it spoils, so much he may by his labour fix a property in: whatever is beyond this, is more than his share and belongs to others. Nothing was made by God
Locke claims that in the state of nature, the common is of no use, which means a tree is just a tree until you cut it down, use the wood to build a house or fire. Everything that was naturally grown and given on earth is worthless until mankind puts value on them. The world is waiting to be claimed and Locke says that private property begins when we remove it from the state of nature claiming it through labor. “The labour that was mine, removing them out of that common state they were in, hath fixed my property in them” (§ 28 pp.20). At first, it was the common right for anyone to fish anything from the ocean, but the act of actually removing the fish from this common state that nature has left it in, made it private property. “God has given us all things richly, 1 Tim.vi.12” (§31 pp. 20). As humans, we are the sole decider of what from nature would benefit us, what would help preserve our lives and improve the world we live in. We are given the earth to transform it, to use it for survival and benefit, God has given the earth to individuals so they can acquire private ownership of