Single Idea 19884

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 3. Alienating rights]

Full Idea

Wherever any number of men so unite into one society as to quite every one his executive power of the law of Nature, and to resign it to the public, there and there only is a civil society.

Gist of Idea

There is only a civil society if the members give up all of their natural executive rights

Source

John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 089)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Two Treatises of Government' [Everyman 1988], p.160


A Reaction

This seems to mean that you must give up your active ('executive') natural rights, but not your passive ones (which are inviolable).