The Second Discourse

    Rousseau begins Part 2 of the Second Discourse by insisting that "[t]he first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say this is mine and found people simple enough to believe him, was the true founder of civil society. What crimes, wars, murders, what miseries and horrors would the human race have been spared, had someone pulled up the stakes or filled in the ditch and cried out to his fellow men: `Do not listen to this imposter. You are lost if you forget that the fruits of the earth belong to all and the earth to no one!" Carefully explain (a) the criticism of Locke's account of property that is implied by this statement (given the broader context of Rousseau's argument), (b) how Locke might best respond to that criticism, and (c) whether the Lockean response is adequate.