Property In John Locke's Second Treatise Of Government

As a philosopher during the ‘social contract era’, Locke primarily focused on property in his Second Treatise of Government. For Locke, property was extremely important; he believed that people have a right to ‘life, liberty, and property’ (Locke 9). In his Second Treatise, Locke goes in depth describing the important components of property: what constitutes property, the right of enclosure, the duty of productivity, and the role which money plays in property. Locke’s philosophy surrounding property lays the framework for modern-day interpretations of property.

To begin, Locke explains how property came to be after the creation of earth. “It is very clear, that God, as king David says Psal. cxv. 16. ‘has given the earth to the children of men’; given it to mankind in common” (Locke 18). Locke’s assertion that property was given to mankind in common

“The same law of nature, that does by this means give us property, does also bound that property too…But how far has he [God] given it to us? To enjoy. As much as any one can make use of to any advantage of life before it spoils, so much he may by his labour fix a property in: whatever is beyond this, is more than his share, and belongs to others” (Locke 20).

This illustrates both clauses, as the right of enclosure refers to leaving enough for others, while the duty of productivity refers to taking only enough property with which one could be productive. Both of these limit his earlier explanation of property from anything that is infused with labor, in order to make sure all property will not go to waste and that everyone has access to possible property. This also relates to current concept of property because people tend to not keep more food than they could use before it spoils. However, Locke adds an escape to his earlier points about property with the introduction of