John Locke -- State of Nature

John Locke talks about the state of nature to emphasize his political beliefs. He says that, “we must consider what estate all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of Nature, without asking leave or depending upon the ill of any other man” (8). Locke believes that everyone has the right of equality and freedom to make their own decisions as long as those choices abide by law. He argues this because he believes that everyone was created equally by the same God. He also explains that every human deserves the right to punish their offender. He says, “…he who hath received any damage has…a particular right to seek reparation from him that hath done it” (10).
John Locke explains that the only reason a person would leave the state of nature would be during times of war. This is due to the fact that war results from two parties that have opposing viewpoints and beliefs as to what they see are right. When this occurs, the state of nature and mentality of equality between all people is broken. Locke says, “Men living together according to reason without a common superior on earth, with authority to judge between them, is properly the state of Nature. But force, or a declared design of force upon the person of another, where there is no common superior on earth to appeal to for relief, is the state of war; and it is the want of such an appeal gives a man the right of war even against an aggressor, though he be in society and a fellow-subject” (13).