Transcript locke - pantherFILE

Ethical Rationalism (5)
Rationalist elements in Locke's
political philosophy
Rationalism since Plato
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dominant approach until 17th
century
classical doctrine of natural law
(Aquinas in 13th century)
Locke’s political philosophy (1690)
Tenets of classical natural
law
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Eternal law--ideal known by God
Gives everything an essential
purpose
Essential purpose of humans is to
live by reason
Natural law: part of eternal law
accessible to human reason
Fundamental ethical principles
given by natural law
Locke’s state of nature
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A condition without political
institutions
A condition subject to moral
principles
These given by natural law and
knowable by human reason
Morality in state of nature
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Freedom and equality
Property in one’s own person (selfownership)
Liberty not license
Rules of property acquisition
Property rights
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Derived from self-ownership
Qualified right to what you mix your
labor with
Transfers by mutual consent
Proviso on original
acquisition
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Take only what you can use
without spoilage
Leave “enough and as good” for
others
Money makes a difference
Explicit consent not required
A role for
compensation?
Situation 1
Situation 2
Situation 3
Person A
100
300
170
Person B
100
105
170
Person C
100
105
170
Total
300
510
510
Political institutions
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Arise out of a contract among
property owners
Protection and enforcement of
property rights the sole legitimate
function of government
Participation rights depend on
property ownership
 Voting
 Representation