Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

What Is 'Natural Right ' According to John Locke?

Good Essays
1294 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Is 'Natural Right ' According to John Locke?
Natural right is distinguished from that of legal right. Natural rights are those rights of any species that exist outside of artificial legal contrivances. Fish that swim in the ocean do so by natural right and not out of some legislation that allows it. Here then are John Lockes own words on the subject: "The main intention of nature, which willeth the increase of mankind, and the continuation of the species in the highest perfection" "The people can not delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves." "The end of law is not to abolish or restrain freedom, but to preserve and enlarge freedom." "There can not anyone moral rule be proposed, where of a man may not justly demand a reason." "If man in the state of nature be so free, as has been said; if he be absolute lord of his own person and possessions, equal to the greatest, and subject to no body, why will he part with his freedom? Why will he give up this empire, and subject himself to the dominion and control of any other power? To which it is obvious to answer, that though in the state of nature he hath such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain, and constantly exposed to the invasion of others: for all being kings as much as he, every man his equal, and the greater part no strict observers of equity and justice, the enjoyment of the property he has in this state is very unsafe, very unsecure. This makes him willing to quit a condition, which, however free, is full of fears and continual dangers: and it is not without reason, that he seeks out, and is willing to join in society with others, who are already united, or have a mind to unite, for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and estates, which I call by the general name, property."

"That equal right which every man hath, to his natural freedom, without being subjected to the will or authority of another man." "A criminal, who having renounced reason...hath, comitted upon one, declared war against all mankind, and therefore may be destroyed as a lion or a tiger, one of those wild savage beasts with whom men can have no society nor security. And upon this is grounded the great law of nature, "Who sheddeth mans blood, by man shall man shall his blood be shed." "To understand political power right, and derive it from it's 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 possesions, and persons as they think fit, with the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending on the will of anyother man." "The people can not delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for they to do themselves." "He that in the state of nature, would take away that freedom, that belongs to anyone in that state, must necessarily supposed to have a design to take away everything else. As he that in the state of society, would take away the freedom belonging to those in that society or commonwealth, must be supposed to design to take away from them everything else." "For in that state of perfect equality, where naturally there is no superiority or jurisdiction of one over another, what any may do in prosecution of that law, everyone must needs have a right to do."

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two main political philosophers during the seventeenth century. Hobbes is the well known author of "Leviathan," and Locke is the author of "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding." In their essays, both men address the characteristics of man, natural law, and the purpose and structure of government. The two men have very different opinions of the characteristics of man. Hobbes sees man as being evil, whereas Locke views man in a much more optimistic light. They both agree that all men are equal according to natural law

. However, their ideas of natural law differ greatly. Hobbes sees natural law as a state of war in which "every man is a enemy to every man." Locke on the other hand, sees natural law as a state of equality and freedom. Locke therefore believes that government is necessary in order to preserve natural law, and on the contrary, Hobbes sees government as necessary in order to control natural law. Hobbes and Locke see mankind's natural characteristics in two very different ways. Hobbes describes the life of man as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short…". He obviously does not think very highly man. He also says that it is hard for men to "believe there be many so wise as themselves," expressing his discontent with how selfish men are. Conversely, Locke views mankind's natural characteristics much more optimistically. Locke sees men as being governed "according to reason." He perceives men to be thinking, capable individuals that can coexist peacefully. Hobbes and Locke disagree on mankind's natural characteristics, but the degree of their disagreement grows much larger with respect to natural law. The main thing that Hobbes and Locke can seem to agree on, with respect to natural law, is that all men are equal in nature. For Hobbes, this equality exists in a state of war, in which "every man has a right to every thing." He terms this state of war, a state of equality, because even "the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest." In Hobbes's opinion, no one is superior, because they are all equal in their level of rottenness. Locke agrees that in natural law, no one is superior. However he writes, "the state all men are naturally in…is a state of perfect freedom… equality… and liberty," displaying his belief that men are sensible by nature, and can exist happily according to natural law, without the need for constant war. Locke does admit that war is sometimes necessary, but that one may only "destroy a man who makes war upon him." In general, he believes that it is beneficial for humans to follow natural law. Since natural law is good, and not evil for Locke, it is therefore the role of government to preserve natural law. For Hobbes on the other hand, government must exist in order to control natural law. Hobbes reasons that people will abide by the laws the government sets, for "fear of some evil consequence." Hobbes points out the selfish reasons for why man will follow government in order to explain how government is able to work, with men being so naturally evil. Locke sees government, as merely a preservation of that which is already good. Locke believes that people are willing to unite under a form of government so as to preserve "their lives, liberties and estates," or in other words, their property. Since natural law is already good, government not only preserves natural law, but also works to enhance it. The ideas presented by Hobbes and Locke are often in opposition. Hobbes tends to take a much more pessimistic stance; viewing men as evil, natural law as a state of war, and government as something that can wipe out natural law. Locke takes a much more optimistic stance; viewing men as free and equal and seeing government as only a preservation of the state they are naturally in. Despite the difference in their arguments, their ideas were revolutionary for their time. The interest they took in man's natural characteristics, natural law, and the role of government, provided inspiration for, and was the focus of many literary works throughout the Enlightenment.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    "That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the Right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The novel Fahrenheit 451 and the film The Truman Show have many similarities. The setting, characters, themes, conflicts, and plot of Fahrenheit 451 all have many distinct characteristics that allow for the novel to be compared with this particular movie. The ideas of characters, setting and conflicts are very similar and give you a different perspective on each work.…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    “The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and to not be under…

    • 573 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    "Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and institute a new government." (Declaration of Independence 1776)…

    • 760 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    GOV 2305

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages

    2. — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government……

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Cmc 240 Final Project

    • 1966 Words
    • 8 Pages

    “To secure these inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, governments are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed…Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their safety and happiness.” - Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, 1776.…

    • 1966 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no on else; hence the exercise of the natural right of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment…

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine Common Sence

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise. For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform, and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of his property to furnish means for the protection of the rest…”…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    commonplace book unit one

    • 3073 Words
    • 8 Pages

    5. “This liberty is maintained and exercised in a way of subjection to authority; it is of the same kind of liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.” John Winthrop, "Little Speech on Liberty" (1645), CAPCT, Vol. 1, pp. 18-19…

    • 3073 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "No one has the right to do wrong, even if wrong has been done to them."…

    • 1195 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Great Depression Outline

    • 1519 Words
    • 7 Pages

    * “The Nation was based on the States rights and having sovereignty from the Federal Government. The Federal Government was initially formed to act as a meeting place and body for the States to come together and make law. That has all changed. States Rights no longer supersede Federal rights. In our country today, Federal Law is the law of the land”…

    • 1519 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Locke's concept of the social contract is to protect people's rights. According to Locke the contract is between the people and these branches of government that they set up. The reason government arises the social contract between people, is because that people want to live longer and better. The legitimacy of the government comes from the fact we consent to set up that authority and protect our natural rights. For example, if we designate a group of people as the executive power to enforce our law, in that case they will be part of the contract, and we contract them to do certain job since they are protected by the natural right. But if the executive power will abuse the system, by brutalize someone or be racist to them, then we will be able to remove them, and that's how rebellion and political change is built into Locke's system, which will be very important for a revolution.…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Men being...by nature, all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent."…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Great Gatsby Quotes

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “That the desires of the majority of the people are often for injustice and inhumanity against the minority, is demonstrated by every page of the history of the whole world”…

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “It is evident, therefore, that according to their primitive signification, [bills of rights] have no application to constitutions professedly founded upon the power of the people, and executed by their immediate representatives and servants. Here, in strictness, the people surrender nothing, and as they retain everything, they have no need of particular…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays