Question

To understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.

—John Locke,
Two Treatises of Government,
1690

Which describes the purpose of this passage?

to define political power
to explain life without government
to explain why people dispose of their possessions
to outline the bounds of the laws of nature.

Answer 1

to explain life without government

Locke is describing the "state of nature" — the natural condition of people living in freedom and without civil government — to set up his account of political power.