5.2 John Locke and the Workmanship Ideal

John Locke's Philosophy

  • Basic View of Human Nature

    • Locke views people as fundamentally good, capable of fulfilling promises, and living peacefully in the state of nature.

    • His perspective contrasts with more pessimistic views, particularly Hobbes'.

  • State of Nature

    • Locke argues the state of nature is not vicious or dangerous but rather inefficient.

    • Individuals must constantly protect their rights, which consumes resources and effort.

    • Unlike Hobbes, Locke believes that conditions in the state of nature are bearable, affecting the justification for government resistance.

Social Contract Theory

  • Consent to Government

    • Locke emphasizes the significance of actual consent to government as opposed to Hobbes' theoretical or rational consensus.

    • Individual agreements form the basis of political authority.

  • Connection to Property and Political Authority

    • The social contract involves the relationship between property rights and political authority, stemming from his craftsmanship ideal.

Theory of Property

  • Property Rights

    • Locke posits that while the earth is common to all, individuals have a right to their own person and the labor they perform.

    • When someone mixes their labor with nature, it results in the creation of property.

  • Common Rights

    • Property titles emerge when individuals take resources from the common and ensure others still have access to equal opportunities.

    • This principle connects with Locke's argument against Sir Robert Filmer's hierarchical view of property and authority.

  • Filmer's View vs. Locke's View

    • Filmer claims that God granted the world to Adam and his heirs, implying a God-given hierarchy for property and monarchy.

    • In contrast, Locke argues God has gifted the world to all humanity, allowing individuals to farm and utilize resources while retaining common rights.

Enclosure Movement

  • Definition and Impact

    • The Enclosure Movement involved privatizing common land, creating exclusive property rights, facilitating modern property ownership.

    • Initially puzzling since Locke advocated for common rights while supporting enclosures.

  • Locke's Rationalization

    • He justified enclosure with a productivity argument, stating that cultivated land yields significantly more than common land.

    • Lock asserts that through labor, one can expand the greater good by increasing efficiency in resource production.

  • Implications for Society

    • Locke’s ideas imply a defense of a welfare state, ensuring that those disadvantaged by enclosure still maintain rights to the benefits of common resources.

    • The necessity of a minimum provision for all individuals leads to a concept of rights derived from natural law.

Conclusion

  • Locke provides a substantial framework for understanding individual rights associated with property, government consent, and the balance between private and common rights within a societal structure.