Second Treatise of Government

by

John Locke

State of Nature Term Analysis

A state outside of civilized society. According to Locke, humankind in a state of nature is in a state of complete freedom and equality. In a state of nature, humankind is obligated to mutual love and support of one another, and they are each obligated to follow the law of nature, which states no one can harm another’s life, liberty, health, or possessions. There is no governing body in a state of nature, and since everyone is perfectly equal, everyone has the right to punish those who violate the law of nature. However, Locke argues, humankind is prone to partiality and violence, so nature is a dangerous place. To escape the threat of violence, preserve their person and property, and establish an impartial judge to which they may appeal, humankind created civil society and common-wealths. Locke likens an absolute monarchy to a state of nature, as neither has an impartial judge to which one may appeal.

State of Nature Quotes in Second Treatise of Government

The Second Treatise of Government quotes below are all either spoken by State of Nature or refer to State of Nature. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature Quotes

But though this be a state of liberty, yet it is not a state of licence: though man in that state have an uncontrollable 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 […].

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Related Symbols: Nature
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:

And that all men may be restrained from invading others rights, and from doing hurt to one another, and the law of nature be observed, which willeth the peace and preservation of all mankind, the execution of the law of nature is, in that state, put into every man's hands, whereby every one has a right to punish the transgressors of that law to such a degree, as may hinder its violation […].

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Related Symbols: Nature
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:

I doubt not but it will be objected, that it is unreasonable for men to be judges in their own cases, that self-love will make men partial to themselves and their friends: and on the other side, that ill nature, passion and revenge will carry them too far in punishing others; and hence nothing but confusion and disorder will follow, and that therefore God hath certainly appointed government to restrain the partiality and violence of men. I easily grant, that civil government is the proper remedy for the inconveniencies of the state of nature, which must certainly be great, where men may be judges in their own case, since it is easy to be imagined, that he who was so unjust as to do his brother an injury, will scarce be so just as to condemn himself for it.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker), Thomas Hobbes
Related Symbols: Nature
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3: Of the State of War Quotes

And here we have the plain difference between the state of nature and the state of war, which however some men have confounded, are as far distant, as a state of peace, good will, mutual assistance and preservation, and a state of enmity, malice, violence and mutual destruction, are one from another. Men living together according to reason, without a common superior on earth, with authority to judge between them, is properly the state of nature.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker), Thomas Hobbes
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7: Of Political of Civil Society Quotes

And this puts men out of a state of nature into that of a common-wealth, by setting up a judge on earth, with authority to determine all the controversies, and redress the injuries that may happen to any member of the commonwealth; which judge is the legislative, or magistrates appointed by it. And where-ever there are any number of men, however associated, that have no such decisive power to appeal to, there they are still in the state of nature.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9: Of the End of Political Society and Government Quotes

But though men, when they enter into society, give up the equality, liberty, and executive power they had in the state of nature, into the hands of the society, to be so far disposed of by the legislative, as the good of the society shall require; yet it being only with an intention in every one the better to preserve himself, his liberty and property; (for no rational creature can be supposed to change his condition with an intention to be worse) the power of the society, or legislative constituted by them, can never be supposed to extend farther, than the common good; but is obliged to secure every one's property, by providing against those three defects above mentioned, that made the state of nature so unsafe and uneasy.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Page Number: 68
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11: Of the Extent of Legislative Power Quotes

But in governments, where the legislative is in one lasting assembly always in being, or in one man, as in absolute monarchies, there is danger still, that they will think themselves to have a distinct interest from the rest of the community; and so will be apt to increase their own riches and power, by taking what they think fit from the people: for a man's property is not at all secure, tho' there be good and equitable laws to set the bounds of it between him and his fellow subjects, if he who commands those subjects have power to take from any private man, what part he pleases of his property, and use and dispose of it as he thinks good.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Page Number: 73-74
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government Quotes

He that will with any clearness speak of the dissolution of government, ought in the first place to distinguish between the dissolution of the society and the dissolution of the government. That which makes the community, and brings men out of the loose state of nature, into one politic society, is the agreement which every one has with the rest to incorporate, and act as one body, and so be one distinct common-wealth. The usual, and almost only way whereby this union is dissolved, is the inroad of foreign force making a conquest upon them: for in that case, (not being able to maintain and support themselves, as one intire and independent body) the union belonging to that body which consisted therein, must necessarily cease, and so every one return to the state he was in before, with a liberty to shift for himself, and provide for his own safety, as he thinks fit, in some other society. Whenever the society is dissolved, it is certain the government of that society cannot remain.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Page Number: 107
Explanation and Analysis:
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State of Nature Term Timeline in Second Treatise of Government

The timeline below shows where the term State of Nature appears in Second Treatise of Government. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
In order to understand political power, Locke claims one must understand the state of nature . According to Locke, all humans in a state of nature—which means they are not... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...a right to punish criminals of the law. There is no governing body in a state of nature to execute laws, and since humankind exists in nature in a perfect state of equality,... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
...one may also seek reparation for lesser crimes, as everyone has executive power in a state of nature(full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...says, which restrains the violence of humankind. Civil government is the only remedy for the state of nature , and Locke reminds readers that absolute monarchs are only just men. (full context)
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Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
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...expects objection as it is impossible to know what it was really like in a state of nature prior to the creation of society, but he reminds readers that there are many societies... (full context)
Chapter 3: Of the State of War
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Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...is lawful to kill a thief. The difference between a state of war and a state of nature , Locke says, is that nature is a state of peace and preservation. A state... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...right to reparation for their injuries. As there is not a common judge in the state of nature to preside over lawful reparations, Locke reminds the reader, the state of war continues. Violence... (full context)
Chapter 4: Of Slavery
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
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...on a governing power, as long as that power is not arbitrary. Freedom in a state of nature , according to Locke, still requires one to live under the law of nature. (full context)
Chapter 7: Of Political of Civil Society
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Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...civil society with each other. Without an authority to appeal to, one is in a state of nature . (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...laws for them, for the common good of the people. This takes one from a state of nature and puts them into a state of a common-wealth through the establishment of a judge... (full context)
Chapter 9: Of the End of Political Society and Government
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
If one is perfectly free in a state of nature , Locke asks, why would one ever part with such freedom? For Locke, the answer... (full context)
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Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
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When one leaves a state of nature to join a common-wealth, one forfeits their power of self-preservation and the right to punish... (full context)
Chapter 11: Of the Extent of Legislative Power
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Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...submit to absolute and arbitrary power without established laws, Locke contends, is worse than a state of nature , where one at least has the right to defend their person and property. The... (full context)
Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, considered together
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Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
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Political power, Locke says, is power given freely to a common-wealth after one leaves a state of nature , which enables the common-wealth to preserve the life and property of its subjects and... (full context)
Chapter 16: Of Conquest
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Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
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...absolute power of the conqueror, that power is still not absolute. As one in a state of nature cannot destroy their own life or possessions, they cannot consent to give such power away.... (full context)
Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government
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Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
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The Dissolution of Government Theme Icon
...in which a society—that being the union people consent to in order to exit the state of nature —can be dissolved is through foreign conquest. Whenever a society is dissolved, a government cannot... (full context)