In The Second Treatise on Civil Government, John Locke introduces his philosophy concerning the importance of acquiring private property. Locke derives his philosophy from a Bible scripture that states that God gave the earth to "mankind in common," ensuring that the descendants of Adam would share the land equitably (Locke 87). Locke defines labor as the qualification for owning land—if a man devotes labor to the land in question, it becomes his property. The land is not just physical property; the earth becomes an integral component of a man 's person. Furthermore, the amount of labor dictates the intrinsic value of his private property. The focal point of John Locke 's philosophy is an equal distribution of land, which assures that every
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Locke asserts that to leave land untouched is in opposition to the desires of the Lord. Therefore, he advocates that men should not be hesitant of allocating the land for their own benefit and survival, while allowing other men to commit the same action. By stating that, "nobody has originally a private dominion exclusive of the rest of mankind," Locke assumes that men will recognize that a greedy approach to land acquisition contradicts his philosophy (87). No one mas has an advantageous position in society that guarantees the quantity or quality of land he possesses. However, if a man chooses a plot of land, and dedicates "the "labor" of his body and the "work" of his hands," he has a right to the property (88). The property consists of the earth and all of the resources that exist on the estate, such as gold and silver. This clarification is important because it exhibits the intrinsic worth of land—from his property, a man can reap benefits that ensure and sustain his existence on the planet. Emphasizing the equal distribution of the land assures mankind that there are enough resources to benefit every …show more content…
The invention of currency alters humankind’s mindset concerning the significance and purpose of land. Rather than appreciating land as a valuable possession that provides resources to satisfy humble needs, man will view land as an impersonal product that will generate profits. Prompted by the prospect of money, mankind will begin to enlarge his possessions, not to secure his wellbeing, but to increase his personal earnings. Speculating about this possibility, Locke concludes that it would be "useless, as well as dishonest, [for man] to carve himself too much, or take more than he needed" (99). When man begins to value the acquisition of money, and material wealth, over respecting the communal state of land, Locke 's philosophy will lose relevancy and
Locke asserts that to leave land untouched is in opposition to the desires of the Lord. Therefore, he advocates that men should not be hesitant of allocating the land for their own benefit and survival, while allowing other men to commit the same action. By stating that, "nobody has originally a private dominion exclusive of the rest of mankind," Locke assumes that men will recognize that a greedy approach to land acquisition contradicts his philosophy (87). No one mas has an advantageous position in society that guarantees the quantity or quality of land he possesses. However, if a man chooses a plot of land, and dedicates "the "labor" of his body and the "work" of his hands," he has a right to the property (88). The property consists of the earth and all of the resources that exist on the estate, such as gold and silver. This clarification is important because it exhibits the intrinsic worth of land—from his property, a man can reap benefits that ensure and sustain his existence on the planet. Emphasizing the equal distribution of the land assures mankind that there are enough resources to benefit every …show more content…
The invention of currency alters humankind’s mindset concerning the significance and purpose of land. Rather than appreciating land as a valuable possession that provides resources to satisfy humble needs, man will view land as an impersonal product that will generate profits. Prompted by the prospect of money, mankind will begin to enlarge his possessions, not to secure his wellbeing, but to increase his personal earnings. Speculating about this possibility, Locke concludes that it would be "useless, as well as dishonest, [for man] to carve himself too much, or take more than he needed" (99). When man begins to value the acquisition of money, and material wealth, over respecting the communal state of land, Locke 's philosophy will lose relevancy and