Locke, John (1632-1704)

The Second Treatise of Government [from Two Treatises of Government]

London

Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill

1689

"The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: And reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions."

But though this be a State of Liberty, yet it is not a state of Licence, though Man in that State have an uncontrolable Liberty, to dispose of his Person or Possessions, yet he has not Liberty to destroy himself, or so much as any Creature in his Possession, but where some nobler use, than its bare preservation calls for it. The State of Nature has a Law of Nature to govern it, which obliges every one, and reason, which is that Law, teaches all Mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his Life, Health, Liberty, or Possessions; For Men being all the Workmanship of one Omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker; all the Servants of one Sovereign Master, sent into the World by his order and about his business. They are his Property, whose Workmanship they are made to last during his, not another's Pleasure. And being Furnished with like Faculties, sharing all in one Community of Nature, there cannot be supposed any such Subordination among us, that may authorize us to destroy another, as if we were made for one another's uses, as the inferior ranks of Creatures are for ours. Every one, as he is bound to preserve himself, and not to quit his Station wilfully, so by the like reason, when his own Preservation comes not in competition, ought he, as much as he can, to preserve the rest of Mankind, and may not, unless it be to do Kustice to an offender, take away or impair the life, or what tends to the Preservation of life, the Liberty, Health, Limb or Goods of another.
(p. 270)

Government::Law

Past Masters

First published anonymously. At least 12 entries in ESTC (1690, 1694, 1698, 1713, 1728 1764, 1766, 1772, 1779, 1794, 1796). The Second Treatise is published separately in editions not listed in the foregoing parentheses.

Two Treatises of Government in the Former, the False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer and His Followers Are Detected and Overthrown, the Latter Is an Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent, and End of Civil Government. (London: Printed for Awnsham Churchill, 1690). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>

12/06/2004

09/13/2011