In discussing natural law and the state of war, Locke describes how there in an exception to the concept of a man having no power over anyone else, as man may use force with right. When one man threatens or inflicts injury over another man or another man’s property, then that man has the right to self defense and may “seek reparation from him that has done it… so much as may make satisfaction for the harm he has suffered.” Locke also states that any other man who finds it just may assist this man in seeking his reparations. I feel that this scenario sounds like a state of complet

The ideas presented on how and why people are governed are also very astute and are present today. I think that people take our government for granted because, for the most part, they were born into the system. However, Locke explains why we choose to be a part of a larger governed system. If everyone puts their trust in a large executive power which promises to protect their rights, then the state of nature, in which any person can start a state of war based on his personal opinion of another person trespassing or causing him harm, does not apply, and the people have a more structured system to work with. They are therefore safer from retaliation of another man threatening their well-being once they enter this civil society, where they submit themselves to the majority, abiding by the rules of the government (or in other words, the majority).

Locke’s theories on property also have some relevance in society today; however I feel that certain aspects of property ownership from his perspective are not completely accurate. Once an individual adds labor to a piece of property, that property then belongs to that individual. I suppose initially, upon colonizing in a new region, where nothing is owned, the land and resources are first come, first serve, and when an individual builds a cabin on a piece of land, that land is his. However, nowadays, property is owned solely by purchasing it. There is no labor required, but rather an exchange of money is required. Also, many people who have more money than they know what to do with will sometimes buy a surplus of resources that will inevitably go to waste. According to Locke’s rule of subsistence, a person can only claim enough of a

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