The Law of Nature as an Abstract Universal. A Study of John . Locke’s Moral Principles in Light of His Critique of Idea of . Substance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/endoxa.36.2015.14566Keywords:
Locke - Law of Nature - Nominal essence - Idea of substance - idea of God.Agencies:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Abstract
This paper proposes to study the law of nature in light of Locke´s critique of the idea of substance. To this end, the first thing which will be accounted for is the displacement in Locke’s work regarding what is meant by the demonstration of the content of the law of nature, as well as the type of proof required. In second place, all the different contents of the law of nature that appear in the Lockean corpus will be taken into account: the ten commandments, loving your neighbour as yourself, the principle of self-preservation of the human race, the prohibition stockpiling fruit and leaving it to spoil, the duty of charity, of working the land and of leaving property to children. In third place, the paper will consider whether this plurality of formulations withstands the critique which Locke himself makes of the idea of substance as a nominal essence, that is, as a vague and imperfect generic definition that lacks the simple ideas that would sustain it. Finally, this internal critique of the Lockean concept of the law of nature will be distinguished from the external critique made by other interpreters in terms of inconsistency.Downloads
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