John Locke, in his Second Treatise of Government , concludes that men are equal in the state of nature based on several key arguments grounded in reason, natural law, and theological principles:
- Locke argues that all men are created by one omnipotent Creator and are therefore "the workmanship of one omnipotent" maker, which implies a fundamental equality among them. This divine creation means no one has a natural right to harm another's life, health, liberty, or possessions
- He reasons that creatures of the same species and rank, born with the same faculties and advantages of nature, must be equal to one another without any natural subordination or authority of one over another, unless explicitly appointed by God
- Locke sees the state of nature as a state of "perfect freedom" and "perfect equality," where every individual has the liberty to order their actions and dispose of their possessions as they see fit, without dependence on or subjection to others
- This equality is reciprocal, meaning all have the same power and jurisdiction; no one naturally holds more authority than another
- The law of nature, discoverable by reason, obliges men to mutual respect and forbids harming others, reinforcing the equality and independence of all individuals in the state of nature
- Locke also invokes moral duties derived from this equality, such as mutual love, justice, and charity, which arise because men recognize their likeness and equal status in nature
In sum, Locke’s conclusion that men are equal in the state of nature rests on the premise that all humans share the same natural faculties and rights given by God, are subject to the same natural law discerned by reason, and thus stand on equal footing without inherent subordination or dominion over one another
