The origin of property in the political theory of James Tyrrell (1642-1718)

The article deals with an approach to the origin of property offered by an English political philosopher and Whig supporter James Tyrrell (1642-1718). J. Tyrrell investigated the concept of property in the context of political and ideological strife between Tory and Whig political parties. The origin of property was found by J. Tyrrell in the state of nature. All people were in this state until the public authority appeared. Unlike J. Locke, James Tyrrell did not consider property as a natural right. Property emerged as a right due to an agreement and formed the basis for a social contract. Such an approach to property allowed Whigs to demonstrate its priority in regard to state institutions and prove the necessity to limit monarch’s powers in respect of his subjects’ property rights.