Second Treatise of Government

by

John Locke

Nature Symbol Icon

In the Second Treatise of Government, nature symbolizes absolute monarchies. In an absolute monarchy, a supreme power—usually a king or a queen—holds complete and total power over all people and property, and that power is not subject to law or dispute. If one is abused, enslaved, or relieved of their property within an absolute monarchy, there is no impartial judge to which they can appeal for relief, and they must instead appeal to the heavens. An absolute monarch does not rule by consent, and when they abuse their power, the force they exert on the people places them into a state of war with one another.

Like an absolute monarchy, there is no common and impartial judge within a state of nature. Thus, there is no common power for one to appeal a perceived wrong. In nature, Locke argues, everyone is completely free and equal; therefore, the right to punish transgressors for violating the law of nature—which states no one can harm another’s life, liberty, health, or possessions—belongs to everyone equally. As there is no one to settle disputes, a state of war continues unchecked, prompting humankind to create civil societies to escape the violence and establish a common judge and laws. The difference between nature and an absolute monarchy, Locke contends, is that one has the right to self-preservation in nature, but no such right exists in an absolute monarchy. Thus, Locke maintains, an absolute monarchy is even worse than a state of nature, and for this reason can never be considered a civil society.

Nature Quotes in Second Treatise of Government

The Second Treatise of Government quotes below all refer to the symbol of Nature. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature Quotes

But though this be a state of liberty, yet it is not a state of licence: though man in that state have an uncontrollable liberty to dispose of his person or possessions, yet he has not liberty to destroy himself, or so much as any creature in his possession, but where some nobler use than its bare preservation calls for it. The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one; and reason, which is that law, 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: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker […].

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Related Symbols: Nature
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:

And that all men may be restrained from invading others rights, and from doing hurt to one another, and the law of nature be observed, which willeth the peace and preservation of all mankind, the execution of the law of nature is, in that state, put into every man's hands, whereby every one has a right to punish the transgressors of that law to such a degree, as may hinder its violation […].

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Related Symbols: Nature
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:

I doubt not but it will be objected, that 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, that ill nature, passion and revenge will carry them too far in punishing others; and hence nothing but confusion and disorder will follow, and that therefore God hath certainly appointed government to restrain the partiality and violence of men. I easily grant, that civil government is the proper remedy for the inconveniencies of the state of nature, which must certainly be great, where men may be judges in their own case, since it is easy to be imagined, that he who was so unjust as to do his brother an injury, will scarce be so just as to condemn himself for it.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker), Thomas Hobbes
Related Symbols: Nature
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: Of Property Quotes

Though the earth, and all inferior creatures, be common to all men, yet every man has a property in his own person: this no body has any right to but himself. The labour of his body, and the work of his hands, we may say, are properly his. Whatsoever then he removes out of the state that nature hath provided, and left it in, he hath mixed his labour with, and joined to it something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property. It being by him removed from the common state nature hath placed it in, it hath by this labour something annexed to it, that excludes the common right of other men: for this labour being the unquestionable property of the labourer, no man but he can have a right to what that is once joined to, at least where there is enough, and as good, left in common for others.

Related Characters: John Locke (speaker)
Related Symbols: Nature
Page Number: 19
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Second Treatise of Government LitChart as a printable PDF.
Second Treatise of Government PDF

Nature Symbol Timeline in Second Treatise of Government

The timeline below shows where the symbol Nature appears in Second Treatise of Government. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...their person and possessions, they are not at liberty to destroy themselves or anyone else. Nature is governed by the law of nature, which states no one can harm another’s life,... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...to punish criminals of the law. There is no governing body in a state of nature to execute laws, and since humankind exists in nature in a perfect state of equality,... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
...whomever they harm has the right to reparation through a victim’s right to self-preservation. In nature, one may kill a murderer, both to protect future victims and deter other criminals. This... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...as it is impossible to know what it was really like in a state of nature prior to the creation of society, but he reminds readers that there are many societies... (full context)
Chapter 3: Of the State of War
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...of “enmity and destruction.” As everyone has the right to self-preservation through the law of nature, one therefore has the right to destroy anyone who makes war upon them just as... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...to kill a thief. The difference between a state of war and a state of nature, Locke says, is that nature is a state of peace and preservation. A state of... (full context)
Chapter 4: Of Slavery
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...liberty of one in society is not the same as the liberty of one in nature. The liberty of one in society is to not be held under the will of... (full context)
Chapter 5: Of Property
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
...right to self-preservation, it stands to reason, Locke contends, they have a right to whatever nature affords them for subsistence. God gave the earth to all humankind in common, which makes... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
...for convenience and advantage, and for the support and comfort of one’s being. All of nature’s fruits and beasts belong to everyone in common, as long as such resources are produced... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
...but this is not theft. If it was, humankind would have starved long ago. In nature, the acorns exist in common, but when one removes the acorns from nature through their... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
...take as much as they please, but this is not so. The same law of nature that gives a person the right to property limits it as well. God has richly... (full context)
Chapter 6: Of Paternal Power
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...parents’ dominion, but they are still expected to honor them. Just as the laws of nature and God obligate parents to care for their children until adulthood, a child is expected... (full context)
Chapter 7: Of Political of Civil Society
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...a man and woman in conjugal society lasts longer than any other conjugal relationship in nature, as it must last long enough to maintain and nourish offspring. However, Locke contends, since... (full context)
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
In nature, humans are born under the law of nature in a state of perfect equality, and... (full context)
Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, considered together
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...Locke says, is power given freely to a common-wealth after one leaves a state of nature, which enables the common-wealth to preserve the life and property of its subjects and punish... (full context)
Chapter 16: Of Conquest
Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Theme Icon
Power and Absolute Monarchies Theme Icon
...of the conqueror, that power is still not absolute. As one in a state of nature cannot destroy their own life or possessions, they cannot consent to give such power away.... (full context)