John Locke talks about a State of Nature to show the natural rights all humans have and how its up to men to be responsible for themselves. Locke states that a state of nature "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." He tries to explain that mankind should be able to watch over one another and "that all men may be restrained from invading others' rights, and from doing hurt to one another." This puts every man on the same level and it allows people to punish one another only to the extent of their crime. Locke says this when he says "One man comes by a power over another,.... but only to retribute to him so far as calm reason and and conscience dictate, what is proportionate to his transgression."
However Locke explains why people do not want to be in a State of Nature and why even though it sounds like a great idea it would most likely not work. Locke says "It is unreasonable for men to be judges in their own cases, that self-love will make men partial to themselves and their friends; and on the other side, ill-nature, passion, and revenge will carry them too far in punishing others." Humans would be too biased in making decisions in how to punish people, and they would be too strict to enemies and to lenient to friends and family. Some people might also be truly in denial for doing something wrong to someone. What they feel might be okay another person might feel that it is improper and worthy of a punishment. A State of Nature would work in a perfect society but unfortunately no society is perfect.
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