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The Religion of Nature Delineated · Theme
Property and Individual Rights
How The Religion of Nature Delineated develops Property and Individual Rights.
It emphasizes that every individual has a natural property in their life, limbs, labor, and its products, and that violating this property—such as by theft or oppression—is a denial of truth and a moral evil, with men being equal in a state of nature.
Where it surfaces
- VI: Truths Respecting Mankind in General, Antecedent to All Human Laws
Discusses natural rights to property, self-defense, and recovery of what is taken by force, asserting that these rights are antecedent to human laws.
- VII: Truths Respecting Particular Societies of Men, or Governments
The protection of property is a central end of society, and laws are needed to ascertain and secure property rights.