The normative and descriptive aspects of Locke’s state of nature

Abstract

It is often claimed that Locke?s conception of the state of nature is replete with inconsistencies. In this paper I will argue that Locke?s various characterisations of the state of nature are not mutually inconsistent. For that reason, I will provide an interpretation which shows that there is no inconsistency when we take into account both normative and descriptive dimension of the state of nature. Furthermore, I will argue that this interpretation has certain advantages over interpretations that rely exclusively on normative or descriptive dimension of the state of nature.