第 5 节
作者:
打倒一切 更新:2021-02-21 15:39 字数:9322
in effect; there was never the less left for others because of his
enclosure for himself。 For he that leaves as much as another can
make use of does as good as take nothing at all。 Nobody could think
himself injured by the drinking of another man; though he took a
good draught; who had a whole river of the same water left him to
quench his thirst。 And the case of land and water; where there is
enough of both; is perfectly the same。
33。 God gave the world to men in common; but since He gave it them
for their benefit and the greatest conveniencies of life they were
capable to draw from it; it cannot be supposed He meant it should
always remain common and uncultivated。 He gave it to the use of the
industrious and rational (and labour was to be his title to it); not
to the fancy or covetousness of the quarrelsome and contentious。 He
that had as good left for his improvement as was already taken up
needed not complain; ought not to meddle with what was already
improved by another's labour; if he did it is plain he desired the
benefit of another's pains; which he had no right to; and not the
ground which God had given him; in common with others; to labour on;
and whereof there was as good left as that already possessed; and more
than he knew what to do with; or his industry could reach to。
34。 It is true; in land that is common in England or any other
country; where there are plenty of people under government who have
money and commerce; no one can enclose or appropriate any part without
the consent of all his fellow…commoners; because this is left common
by compact… i。e。; by the law of the land; which is not to be violated。
And; though it be common in respect of some men; it is not so to all
mankind; but is the joint propriety of this country; or this parish。
Besides; the remainder; after such enclosure; would not be as good
to the rest of the commoners as the whole was; when they could all
make use of the whole; whereas in the beginning and first peopling
of the great common of the world it was quite otherwise。 The law man
was under was rather for appropriating。 God commanded; and his wants
forced him to labour。 That was his property; which could not be
taken from him wherever he had fixed it。 And hence subduing or
cultivating the earth and having dominion; we see; are joined
together。 The one gave title to the other。 So that God; by
commanding to subdue; gave authority so far to appropriate。 And the
condition of human life; which requires labour and materials to work
on; necessarily introduce private possessions。
35。 The measure of property Nature well set; by the extent of
men's labour and the conveniency of life。 No man's labour could subdue
or appropriate all; nor could his enjoyment consume more than a
small part; so that it was impossible for any man; this way; to
entrench upon the right of another or acquire to himself a property to
the prejudice of his neighbour; who would still have room for as
good and as large a possession (after the other had taken out his)
as before it was appropriated。 Which measure did confine every man's
possession to a very moderate proportion; and such as he might
appropriate to himself without injury to anybody in the first ages
of the world; when men were more in danger to be lost; by wandering
from their company; in the then vast wilderness of the earth than to
be straitened for want of room to plant in。
36。 The same measure may be allowed still; without prejudice to
anybody; full as the world seems。 For; supposing a man or family; in
the state they were at first; peopling of the world by the children of
Adam or Noah; let him plant in some inland vacant places of America。
We shall find that the possessions he could make himself; upon the
measures we have given; would not be very large; nor; even to this
day; prejudice the rest of mankind or give them reason to complain
or think themselves injured by this man's encroachment; though the
race of men have now spread themselves to all the corners of the
world; and do infinitely exceed the small number was at the beginning。
Nay; the extent of ground is of so little value without labour that
I have heard it affirmed that in Spain itself a man may be permitted
to plough; sow; and reap; without being disturbed; upon land he has no
other title to; but only his making use of it。 But; on the contrary;
the inhabitants think themselves beholden to him who; by his
industry on neglected; and consequently waste land; has increased
the stock of corn; which they wanted。 But be this as it will; which
I lay no stress on; this I dare boldly affirm; that the same rule of
propriety… viz。; that every man should have as much as he could make
use of; would hold still in the world; without straitening anybody;
since there is land enough in the world to suffice double the
inhabitants; had not the invention of money; and the tacit agreement
of men to put a value on it; introduced (by consent) larger
possessions and a right to them; which; how it has done; I shall by
and by show more at large。
37。 This is certain; that in the beginning; before the desire of
having more than men needed had altered the intrinsic value of things;
which depends only on their usefulness to the life of man; or had
agreed that a little piece of yellow metal; which would keep without
wasting or decay; should be worth a great piece of flesh or a whole
heap of corn; though men had a right to appropriate by their labour;
each one to himself; as much of the things of Nature as he could
use; yet this could not be much; nor to the prejudice of others; where
the same plenty was still left; to those who would use the same
industry。
Before the appropriation of land; he who gathered as much of the
wild fruit; killed; caught; or tamed as many of the beasts as he
could… he that so employed his pains about any of the spontaneous
products of Nature as any way to alter them from the state Nature
put them in; by placing any of his labour on them; did thereby acquire
a propriety in them; but if they perished in his possession without
their due use… if the fruits rotted or the venison putrefied before he
could spend it; he offended against the common law of Nature; and
was liable to be punished: he invaded his neighbour's share; for he
had no right farther than his use called for any of them; and they
might serve to afford him conveniencies of life。
38。 The same measures governed the possession of land; too。
Whatsoever he tilled and reaped; laid up and made use of before it
spoiled; that was his peculiar right; whatsoever he enclosed; and
could feed and make use of; the cattle and product was also his。 But
if either the grass of his enclosure rotted on the ground; or the
fruit of his planting perished without gathering and laying up; this
part of the earth; notwithstanding his enclosure; was still to be
looked on as waste; and might be the possession of any other。 Thus; at
the beginning; Cain might take as much ground as he could till and
make it his own land; and yet leave enough to Abel's sheep to feed on:
a few acres would serve for both their possessions。 But as families
increased and industry enlarged their stocks; their possessions
enlarged with the need of them; but yet it was commonly without any
fixed property in the ground they made use of till they
incorporated; settled themselves together; and built cities; and then;
by consent; they came in time to set out the bounds of their
distinct territories and agree on limits between them and their
neighbours; and by laws within themselves settled the properties of
those of the same society。 For we see that in that part of the world
which was first inhabited; and therefore like to be best peopled; even
as low down as Abraham's time; they wandered with their flocks and
their herds; which was their substance; freely up and down… and this
Abraham did in a country where he was a stranger; whence it is plain
that; at least; a great part of the land lay in common; that the
inhabitants valued it not; nor claimed property in any more than
they made use of; but when there was not room enough in the same place
for their herds to feed together; they; by consent; as Abraham and Lot
did (Gen。 xiii。 5); separated and enlarged their pasture where it best
liked them。 And for the same reason; Esau went from his father and his
brother; and planted in Mount Seir (Gen。 36。 6)。
39。 And thus; without supposing any private dominion and property in
Adam over all the world; exclusive of all other men; which can no
way be proved; nor any one's property be made out from it; but
supposing the world; given as it was to the children of men in common;
we see how labour could make men distinct titles to several parcels of
it for their private uses; wherein there could be no doubt of right;
no room for quarrel。
40。 Nor is it so strange as; perhaps; before consideration; it may
appear; that the property of labour should be able to overbalance
the community of land; for it is labour indeed that puts the
difference of val