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The Foundations of Culture - Index

Jean Jaques Rousseau John Locke      

 

John Locke

“Two Treatises on Government: Second Treatise”, 1689 (excerpt)

 

THE “NO HARM” PRINCIPLE

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.

 

PRESERVATION OF MANKIND

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. For the law of nature would, as all other laws that concern men in this world, be in vain, if there were nobody that in the state of nature had a power to execute that law, and thereby preserve the innocent and restrain offenders, …


AUTHORITY

And thus, in the state of nature, one man comes by a power over another;…


PUNISH LAW BREAKERS

In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule, than that of reason and common equity, which is that measure God has set to the actions of men for their mutual security; and so he becomes dangerous to mankind, ...

 

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