Locke's State of Nature, good for notes , and presentations.

Essay by phish28 April 2002

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A state of perfect freedom and equality. That freedom includes how we use our property and our bodies. Law of nature is governed by our hunam nature that we have through reason. Cannot harm oursleves or others and no theft is allowed. The equality amongst everyone,because there is no goernment, is the basis for justice and charity. " do unto others as you would have others do to you." Reason is the law of nature, which governs state of nature. The equality in the state of nature prohibits the harming of ourselves and other's. The duty of self-preservation leads to the obligation we have to pretect other's. Equality permits that every person has the power and are able to enforce the law. No one person can dominate the authority. Punishment must fit the crime and the victom can decide the reparations. We decide if the punishment fits the crime by using our own reason but people cannot be judges in thier own cases because their passions conflict with their reason.

Once you can leave the state of nature, you enter the state of war. "But I moreover affirm, that all men are naturally in that state, and remain so, till their own consents they make themsleves members of some politic society" ( locke ).