Locke -- Human Nature

In my opinion, John Locke believes that human nature is good. He says, “God, when He gave the world in common to all mankind, commanded man also to labour, and the penury of his condition required it of him. God and his reason commanded him to subdue the earth – i.e., improve it for the benefit of life and therein lay out something upon it that was his own, his labour” (16). Here Locke is explaining that when man applies labour onto the earth, a form of human nature, they are in fact helping to better it for another person. Locke also explains that when a person takes something out of their common state by applying labour to it, for example killing a dolphin for food, that dolphin becomes their property. I believe Locke argues that resources are abundant, for he writes, “…every man should have as much as he could make use of, would hold still in the world, without straightening anybody, since there is land enough in the world to suffice double the inhabitants…” (17). However, Locke clarifies that one is condemned to punishment if their property is taken advantage of or put to uselessness. This would mean just killing the dolphin for the fun of it instead of killing the dolphin and using it for food. Finally, I believe that Locke argues the fact that the world and environment are without much inherent value, unless labored upon by a person because he writes, “…the extent of ground is of so little value without labour…” (17).