Question on Locke and Hobbes’s views on private property?

How did Locke View private property?

Locke held that individuals have a right to homestead private property from nature by working on it, but that they can do so only “…at least where there is enough, and as good, left in common for others”.

What do Hobbes and Locke disagree on?

Locke also disagreed with Hobbes about the social contract. For him, it was not just an agreement among the people, but between them and the sovereign (preferably a king). theory in writing the Declaration of Independence. Locke spoke out for freedom of thought, speech, and religion.

How was John Locke’s view of the state of nature different from Thomas Hobbes’s view of the state of nature?

Locke views the state of nature more positively and presupposes it to be governed by natural law. He differentiates the state of nature from the state of war, unlike Hobbes who conceives the state of nature per se as equivalent to the state of war.

How did Thomas Hobbes and John Locke’s views differ?

Locke believed that we have the right to life as well as the right to just and impartial protection of our property. Any violation of the social contract would one in a state of war with his fellow countrymen. Conversely, Hobbes believed that if you simply do what you are told, you are safe.

How is private property justified?

The right to private property is the right to have and control the use of resources individuals require for satisfying their needs. The justification of this right is that it serves everyone’s interest.

What two Limits does Locke place on the ability to take property?

Locke put two limits on property rights: I can acquire a property right in a thing only if “enough and as good” are left for others (§27, §33) and I cannot allow anything I take as my property to spoil (§31). The first limit is sometimes referred to as the “Lockean proviso.”

Did Hobbes and Locke agree on the state of nature?

Conclusion : The political philosophy of Locke and Hobbes



Ultimately, each author has his own conception of the state of nature and the transition to the state. None of them agrees at any point on a common definition.

Who gives the better account of the state of nature Hobbes or Locke?

Locke’s Account. In contrast, Locke’s state of nature is seemingly a far more pleasant place to be than Hobbes‘. He also gives Laws of Nature, ‘that mankind is to be preserved as much as possible’. This comes from the idea that we are God’s property and should not then harm one another.

Why is private property important to Locke?


One of Locke's most important and enduring insights. Related to property Locke argued that every person was born with certain basic natural rights and that these natural rights enabled individuals to

Why private property is important?

Private property gives individuals an incentive to earn, invest, and accumulate wealth. It incentivizes people to earn as wealth can accumulate. That accumulation can be used for future consumption. Human wants are inherently infinite and private property allows humans to accumulate wealth and satisfy future wants.

How do we create private property Locke?

According to Locke, the right to private property originated when God gave the world to men. Locke makes the argument that when God created the world for man, he gave man reason to make use of the world to the best advantage of life, and convenience.

Where did private property come from?

Private property defined as property owned by commercial entities emerged with the great European trading companies of the 17th century.

How did Locke think representative government should work and how did property play a role?

Locke favored a representative government such as the English Parliament, which had a hereditary House of Lords and an elected House of Commons. But he wanted representatives to be only men of property and business. Consequently, only adult male property owners should have the right to vote.

What were Locke’s views on property and its relationship to government?

What were Locke’s views on property and its relationships to government? Locke believed that property was the was the most important natural right. He declared that owners may do whatever they want with their property as long as they don’t invade the rights of others.

What is Locke’s rationale for regarding rights to life, liberty and property as natural?

Locke wrote that all individuals are equal in the sense that they are born with certain “inalienable” natural rights. That is, rights that are God-given and can never be taken or even given away. Among these fundamental natural rights, Locke said, are “life, liberty, and property.”

Does property exist in the state of nature according to Locke?

Locke believed that even in the state of nature an individual could own property — in other words, property rights pre-exist government; they are not merely a grant of government.

Is private property a natural right?

The natural right to private property stands as a principle of right economic order beyond any power of the state to abrogate. Some evolution of society is necessary for recognition of this, and the role of government remains in correcting abuses and ensuring social benefit, but these are further questions.

Is private property moral?

The right of private property is a moral and economic preqrequisite for making the pursuit of individual excellence possible. There can be no morality without self-responsibility and self-determination which, in turn, depend upon the existence of private property rights.