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Simple English definitions for legal terms
labor theory
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A quick definition of labor theory:
The labor theory, also known as Lockean labor theory, is a philosophy created by John Locke that explains why people have the right to own property. According to this theory, people have the right to own things that they have worked on or created using their own labor. This theory is often used to explain why inventors, authors, and artists have the right to own their own creations.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: The Labor Theory, also known as Lockean Labor Theory, is a philosophy developed by John Locke that justifies private property ownership based on the natural right of one's ownership of their own labor. According to this theory, individuals have the right to use nature's common property to the extent that their labor can make use of it.
This theory is often used to analyze the natural rights of inventors, authors, and artists in their own creations. For example, if an artist creates a painting, they have the right to own and profit from that painting because they put their own labor into creating it.
Another example is if a farmer cultivates a piece of land, they have the right to own and use that land because they put their own labor into making it productive.
The Labor Theory is often contrasted with other theories of property ownership, such as Personality Theory and Utilitarianism.