The right of private appropriation in Locke: a transitional thought

Abstract

This paper aims at evaluating the attempt of justifying the right of private appropriation undertaken by John Locke in Chapter V of the Second treatise of government. In the initial stage of human sociability, private appropriation is clearly considered by Locke as a natural right, as long as the limits established by reason are respected. Nevertheless, due to the introduction of currency, private appropriation gains a new dimension and requires a new justification. This point is very controversial and gave rise to numerous and conflicting interpretations. This topic exemplifies very well, we believe, the transitional character that characterizes the 18th century and Locke?s political thought. It carries in itself the traditional Christian values and at the same time points to the new capitalist world and bourgeois values that are regarded, on the one hand, as promising, and, on the other hand, as dangerous and corruptive. On the one hand, Locke advocates equality, collectivity and charity, establishing important limits to property rights. On the other hand, Locke adopts a sort of naturalization of currency, commerce, and wage labor, so that he is even enthusiastic about adopting an almost unlimited property right. Because of this ambiguous character, it is hard to have an interpretation of Locke that does not turn out to be seen as partial or tendentious.