However, when man does not act according to the state of nature given to him by his creator, but instead "lives by some rule other than that of reason and common fairness (which is the standard that God has set for the actions of men, for their mutual security); and so he becomes dangerous to mankind because he has disregarded and broken the tie that is meant to secure them from injury and violence." (Bennett 4); Locke says then one man has the right to rule over another for the common good. Therefore, he must make and enforce laws that will protect men from others living by violence (Bennett 4) Men who realize they need the rule of law to protect themselves form political societies under one government (Bennett 32). .
Locke expounds further that the state of nature lacks several things that men need to live in peace. It "lacks an established, settled, known law, received and accepted by common consent as the standard of right and wrong and as the common measure to decide all controversies; it lacks a known and impartial judge, with authority to settle all differences according to the established law; and it lacks a power to back up and support a correct sentence, and to enforce it properly (Bennett 40).
Another important concept that Locke presented to the readers of his Treatise was the equality of man. He said, "Because we are all equal and independent, no-one ought to harm anyone else in his life, health, liberty or possessions (Bennett 4). Lock believed mankind has "the same abilities, and share in one common nature, so there can't be any rank-ordering that would authorize some to destroy others, as if we were made to be used by one another, as the lower kinds of creatures are made to be used by us (Bennett 4). Locke explains that political bodies work best when all men subject to the laws develop and agree upon them. This clearly was the beginning of democratic thought.
