How useful is Locke’s theory of private property today?
If a man was to pour a drop his orange juice, in which he laboured to make, into the ocean… does this therefore give him the rights and ownership to the sea? The idea of property depicts the claims to rights of ownership, control and employment to either common or private land. John Locke explores essentially the idea that if he mixes and applies his labour i.e. farming the land it becomes his property. “Whatsoever then he removes out of the state of nature… he hath mixed his labour with, and joined it with something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property”. Locke’s theory on private property can be argued to have been proven useful when it is beneficial, when it helps and serves the individual, but yet it is ignored otherwise. What I mean by this is that, Locke’s theory of private property is useful to help justify materialism and economic justice. Yet in terms of the current international system and states relations with one and another, human rights, poli...