In his chapter, “On Property,” Locke seeks to discount another writer, Robert
Filmer, who claimed that divine monarchs were the rightful owners of lands
across the globe. Locke counters that common men were the rightful owners of
the lands that they labored. He uses an example of a man who picks a fruit from a
tree located on the land that he has labored; the land being his property. The man is
obviously permitted to eat this fruit since it is his property and was located on the
land that he labored. Locke’s writings, particularly on property, were instrumental
in the formation of modern institutions and concepts like free market capitalism and
democratic governance. He warns against plundering land and consuming in excess
but Locke’s opinions on property have had an unintended and devastating
consequence. It has resulted in the “freedom” or “right” to use and exploit land as
the owner has deemed beneficial to him- or herself. Corporations have destroyed
thousands of acres of natural rain forests where thousands of species used to live
and millions of humans who needed the water and medicine are not able to extract
those resources now. These practices are justified by our society’s cherished right
to property. Locke’s opinion on property does have other consequences that are
beneficial to the individual and society.
Locke wanted every man to be the master of his own body; this was the
most important property to man. The right to own one’s own body was the
foundation for his argument regarding property. Locke wanted to expel the notion
that governments could not support the people because the leader and his subjects
did not always share common interests. Locke concluded that man left nature to
create a social contract with society. A civil government could emerge from society
that would protect the people’s basic rights.
Locke’s words were powerful and...