Locke's law of nature

Abstract

It is suggested that a theorist's interpretation of Locke's law of nature leads him to many conclusions regarding Locke's political theory. In the past, many interpreters have agreed that the law of nature is a central concept in Locke's theory, but they have concentrated their attention on the state of nature, the state of war, and the state of civil society to interpret Locke's work. Often, it appears that their view of the law of nature, which they have not thoroughly considered, has led, perhaps inadvertently, to an incorrect view of the state of nature and the rest of Locke's theory. The faulty view has produced for these theorists apparent inconsistencies in Locke's thought that are not present in fact. It is hoped that the consideration given to the law of nature, here, and the emphasis given to the essential role it plays in Locke's theory will eliminate much of the confusion. In pursuing this objective, it has been found necessary to review work done by several theorists, including Leo Strauss, Robert A. Goldwin, Sterling P. Lamprecht, John Gough, John Dunn, Richard Ashcraft, and Peter Laslett. Following this consideration is a brief analysis of Locke's law of nature and a suggested interpretation of Locke's state of nature based on this analysis.Political Science, Department o