POL200Y5 Study Guide - Final Guide: English Civil War
Document Summary
Joh(cid:374) lo(cid:272)ke (cid:271)elie(cid:448)ed that the state of (cid:374)ature (cid:449)as(cid:374)(cid:859)t too (cid:271)ad. The state of (cid:374)ature (cid:449)as o(cid:374)e of equality and perfect freedom. The law of nature for locke is self-preservation guided by reason. Locke believed that with reason, nobody would fight with each other unless someone else infringes upon their rights. In the state of nature, locke also introduced the right to punishment, meaning if so(cid:373)e(cid:271)ody is i(cid:374)fri(cid:374)gi(cid:374)g upo(cid:374) yours, or a(cid:374)other (cid:373)e(cid:373)(cid:271)er(cid:859)s esse(cid:374)tial rights, then you have the right to punish them in whatever mean you believe is fair. This is where the problem begins for locke. Locke realizes that within human nature, there is the possibility for this right to be abused by some, which can therefore transform the state of nature into a state of war. For example, if one punishes another too much and infringes upon their freedom, then they will want to punish back, and so on.
