Value and growth: Rethinking basic concepts in Lockean liberalism

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5324/eip.v11i1.1967

Keywords:

Growth, John Locke, private property rights, ecosystem goods and services, liberalism, environmental politics, role of government, nature

Abstract

This article argues that protection of the environment requires reconsidering basic liberal ideas relating to value and growth. It selects a central thinker in the liberal tradition, John Locke, as a starting point. The article first shows how Locke’s political writings at first glance might support a “possessive individualist” position that gives primacy to individuals and their rights to property in a way that blocks governmental action to protect the environment, much as some modern versions of liberalism and libertarianism maintain. However, there are other aspects of Locke’s writings that undermine this position. In particular, a reconsideration of his views on private property in combination with his views on the harm principle, the common good, and future generations can support the position that an individual’s right to exploit nature is indeed limited. These elements of Locke are strengthened considerably if Locke’s view of nature is updated by reconsidering nature as composed of ecosystems and as providing ecosystem goods and services. That land should continue to produce abundantly is foundational to Locke, and the failure to protect the ecosystems that provide key services supporting this abundance harms both the property of others and the viability of society: preservation of these constitute a collective good that transcends the individual good. The protection of ecosystem services also works to protect the value of individual holdings as well as the value of land still held in common. Finally, Locke’s writing supports the view that it is the role of government to act to protect the abundance of nature, even against the wishes of an individual property owner.

Article first published online: 25 Feb 2017

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Author Biographies

Jennifer Leigh Bailey, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Ph.D., M.A. in International studies, M.A. in government

Professor at the Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Jennifer.bailey@svt.ntnu.no

Research area: environmental politics, fisheries management, civil society, US politics

May Thorseth, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Ph.D. in philosophy

Professor at Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Director of NTNU's Programme for Applied Ethics, member of the management group of NTNU Sustainability.

May.thorseth@tnu.no

Research areas: ethics/applied ethics and political philosophy; research ethics; environmental ethics; information-and communication ethics; RRI.

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Published

2017-05-09

How to Cite

Bailey, J. L., & Thorseth, M. (2017). Value and growth: Rethinking basic concepts in Lockean liberalism. Etikk I Praksis - Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics, 11(1), 107 - 129. https://doi.org/10.5324/eip.v11i1.1967

Issue

Section

Åpen del - Open section

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