PHL309: Business Ethics

Please answer this question

some argue that private property in land, including the materials that come from it

(wood, water, fruit and other edible plants, wild animals, etc.), is not only a man-

made invention, but unnatural and unjust, on the grounds that nature existed long

before us, and does not come in parceled-out units, but rather, as John Locke points

out, is originally "given" to people (he says "men") "in common" by God. Nature

doesn't belong to anyone and nothing comes pre-packaged in units that belong to this

or that person, and so it is wrong for people to mark any of it off as their own

property as opposed to using it in common. Explain Locke's criticism of this

argument. Do you agree with his view about the need for private property? Why or

why not? Explain, with

reference to his argument (i.e. try to stay close to the text and

show you understand his argument, whether you agree or

not)