Final answer:
Locke posited that private property originated from labor on common resources, yet was limited to prevent deprivation of others, but the introduction of money allowed for greater accumulation. His philosophy influenced government protection of property rights and founds the groundwork for American democracy as seen in the U.S. Constitution. Locke's ideas are contrasted with Adam Smith's free-market capitalism, which suggests less government involvement in property acquisition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Origins and Restrictions of Private Property in Locke's Philosophy
John Locke's view on private property is that in the state of nature, property rights originate from the labor individuals put into the resources that God has given to everyone. These natural rights meant that one could acquire property as long as there was enough and as good left for others and there was no waste. However, the invention of money alters these limits as it allows individuals to accumulate more property without the same restrictions, leading to a society in which some people could own significantly more land than others based on the development and profit it could bring. This money-based society, theorized by Locke, would enable higher standards of living and would not harm others even if it resulted in substantial inequality.
Locke's Influence on Government and Society
Locke's ideas not only explore the right to property but also recommend a government system that protects private property, ensures the right to sell labor for wages, and is subject to the right of revolution if it does not serve the people's interests. Reflecting on the essence of natural and civil liberties, Locke insists that everyone has the right to protect their property through a civil society with laws and governance. This philosophy deeply permeated American colonial thinking and later became a foundation for modern democratic systems as seen in the U.S. Constitution.
Contrasting Locke's Views with Adam Smith's
While Locke specified limits to property acquisition based on the state of nature and the development of money, Adam Smith, another influential thinker, proffered that people should have the freedom to acquire property through their own means without government intervention. Smith's emphasis on competition and free market principles in The Wealth of Nations laid the groundwork for industrial capitalism, differing from Locke's views that while a government should protect property, it also needed to maintain a balance and serve the common good.