The Moral Implications Of Locke's State Of Nature

"Natural state" works as a basic concept both in western political philosophy and in modern western political philosophy.There is no doubt that the study of modern political philosophy starts with the research of the theory of natural state.Thus the natural state of Locke plays an essential role in modern political philosophy.Where there is the state of nature,there are more systematic human freedom and equality,individual obligations and obligations to the preservation of society,the development of property rights doctrine,and the formation of modern political society.Therefore,the paper,with the importance of the "natural state" as a core,is to analyze the research of the theory at home and abroad through reading domestic and foreign literature and to put forward my own ideas.On the basis of analysis of the theoretical origins of Locke’s natural state,the author is to figure out the development path of natural state from the ancient Greek to the medieval period to the modern society,including the democratic society of ancient Greece,the emergence of individual freedom and equality in the Middle Ages as well as the systematic development of modern political philosophy.Moreover,the thesis is to interpret the basic concepts of Locke’s natural state,showing that it is not pre-political,but a natural political state,where the right of freedom,of life,and of property is completely controlled by the individual.And at the same time,individual behavior is monitored by natural moral law.Although everyone is equal but restricted on the other hand,because people have the obligation to preserve themselves as well as the society in natural law.However,every coin has two sides,so does the natural state,for instance,the implementation of the right to enforce natural law.Since the political society was established based on morality,the society will collapse when it violates natural law and in other words,there is no moral basis at all.Though Locke developed the natural state based on that of Hobbes,they are totally different in the "person-to-person" relationship in the natural state,which is the reason why difference comes into being.Locke believes that all men are created with the natural state as free individual site,a kind of inalienable right;There is merely natural law in the natural state,where every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey natural law and in turn,safeguard their own interests.However,there are contradictions hard to get over in the natural state,that is,how to enjoy the right of natural law and how to resolve disputes between people because of their protection for themselves and disobedience of the law.Then it is necessary for people to give up some rights,during which the government emerges to enforce punishment and safeguard the right to protect people’s personal rights,freedom,and property.If the government attempts to infringe on the people’s property and arbitrarily dispose of the people’s life,rights and property,then the contract will be destroyed and people will have the right to terminate the contract.Nevertheless,it is impossible for people return to the original natural state for they remain part of the political society.But people are available to re-select the government and spur and monitor the creation and establishment of government institutions by natural moral state.In summary,a political community that safeguards the interests of everyone will very much depends on the moral connotation of "natural state" that is seen as the basic criterion for establishing a "political society"or "nation".