SYNTHESIS #3 – Locke and Rousseau
People need government. The authority of civil society provides protection and is necessary because it is able to help better the natural state of people. The Second Treatise of Government by John Locke and Basic Political Writings by Jean-Jacques Rousseau are two works that deal with political philosophy support this theory that government arises as a means of rectifying some of the shortcomings found in the state of nature. Locke and Rousseau have different ideas about what civil society protects and about what shortcomings of this natural state government works to solve, but both believe government is essential. Government provides protection and improves the lives of people.
Locke believes that the role of government is to secure the natural rights of people, namely property and liberty. He believes that men exist in the state of nature in perfect freedom. They do what they want, but they are also responsible for a lot–serving justice, protecting property, providing necessities. Locke believes that the state of nature is not necessarily good or bad, but it a …show more content…
He would say that Rousseau is naive in believing that people consent to government for any reason other than direct personal gain. He would claim that the general will is not a strong enough incentive and he would argue that Rousseau’s view of mankind is far too positive. Locke would find Rousseau’s faith in people’s support of the general will too optimistic and would argue that people only agree to something when they can tangibly see how they will profit. This belief relates a lot to his idea of tacit consent because future generations will be profiting off government long before they understand that they have agreed to it. Rousseau believes that people are fundamentally good and Locke believe that they are fundamental focussed on
People need government. The authority of civil society provides protection and is necessary because it is able to help better the natural state of people. The Second Treatise of Government by John Locke and Basic Political Writings by Jean-Jacques Rousseau are two works that deal with political philosophy support this theory that government arises as a means of rectifying some of the shortcomings found in the state of nature. Locke and Rousseau have different ideas about what civil society protects and about what shortcomings of this natural state government works to solve, but both believe government is essential. Government provides protection and improves the lives of people.
Locke believes that the role of government is to secure the natural rights of people, namely property and liberty. He believes that men exist in the state of nature in perfect freedom. They do what they want, but they are also responsible for a lot–serving justice, protecting property, providing necessities. Locke believes that the state of nature is not necessarily good or bad, but it a …show more content…
He would say that Rousseau is naive in believing that people consent to government for any reason other than direct personal gain. He would claim that the general will is not a strong enough incentive and he would argue that Rousseau’s view of mankind is far too positive. Locke would find Rousseau’s faith in people’s support of the general will too optimistic and would argue that people only agree to something when they can tangibly see how they will profit. This belief relates a lot to his idea of tacit consent because future generations will be profiting off government long before they understand that they have agreed to it. Rousseau believes that people are fundamentally good and Locke believe that they are fundamental focussed on