The nature of order is a hot button issue that many philosophical writers and thinkers have taken copious amounts of time, paper, and ink to ponder about. Two authors that are particularly infamous for their seemingly polarized viewpoints regarding the topic of society are Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacque Rousseau. Hobbes takes on the role of the pessimist, supposing that the nature of human socialization is that of war, while Rousseau looks on the brighter side, arguing that peace is the natural driver behind human interaction. Despite their notorious rivalry, their thinking is more alike than what appears on the surface. How do Rousseau and Hobbes find common ground regarding the topic of preferability of society? Jean Jacque Rousseau’s “A Discourse
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While his tone resonates as negatively critical during his mentions of society-related issues, he nevertheless acknowledges that it has redeeming qualities. For instance, he states, “Give civilized man time to gather all his machines about him, and he will no doubt easily beat the savage…” (Rousseau 53). Due to technologies such as guns and swords, an individual of social upbringing has a supplementary advantage in self-defense and survivorship that an individual of nature would not have access to. Rousseau even remarkably exemplifies an actual case of human savages who utilize inorganic technologies to assist their innate battle for self-preservation. He explains, “The Caribs of Venezuela…they expose themselves freely in the woods, armed with only bows and arrows; but no one has ever heard of one of them being devoured by wild beasts” (Rousseau 55). In addition to physical technologies, Rousseau also recognizes the importance of societal pursuits, such as education and personal development. As he depicts life in a state of nature, he states, “Every art would necessarily perish with its inventor, where there is no kind of education among men, and generations succeeded generations without the least advance…centuries must have elapsed in …show more content…
Rousseau’s realism allows him to acknowledge the benefits that accompany some societal technologies and behaviors. Due to this realism, it can be inferred that Rousseau is not opposed to society, but merely critical of it and wishes for its improvement. Along with civil improvement, Rousseau also advocates for human improvement and betterment, and ideology that is greatly in common with that of Hobbes. With this uncovered discovery that solves a major contradiction among these notoriously competing texts, new ideas can be inferred. For instance, if Rousseau’s attitude towards society is more realistic, as well as further aligned with Hobbes’s point of view than previously anticipated, this could suggest that Hobbes’s take on the preferability of society is more rooted in reality, rather than in optimism or idealism. Additionally, Rousseau’s acknowledgement of some of the benefits that result from civility could suggest that his motivations behind “Discourse on the Origin of Inequality” were driven by alternative
While his tone resonates as negatively critical during his mentions of society-related issues, he nevertheless acknowledges that it has redeeming qualities. For instance, he states, “Give civilized man time to gather all his machines about him, and he will no doubt easily beat the savage…” (Rousseau 53). Due to technologies such as guns and swords, an individual of social upbringing has a supplementary advantage in self-defense and survivorship that an individual of nature would not have access to. Rousseau even remarkably exemplifies an actual case of human savages who utilize inorganic technologies to assist their innate battle for self-preservation. He explains, “The Caribs of Venezuela…they expose themselves freely in the woods, armed with only bows and arrows; but no one has ever heard of one of them being devoured by wild beasts” (Rousseau 55). In addition to physical technologies, Rousseau also recognizes the importance of societal pursuits, such as education and personal development. As he depicts life in a state of nature, he states, “Every art would necessarily perish with its inventor, where there is no kind of education among men, and generations succeeded generations without the least advance…centuries must have elapsed in …show more content…
Rousseau’s realism allows him to acknowledge the benefits that accompany some societal technologies and behaviors. Due to this realism, it can be inferred that Rousseau is not opposed to society, but merely critical of it and wishes for its improvement. Along with civil improvement, Rousseau also advocates for human improvement and betterment, and ideology that is greatly in common with that of Hobbes. With this uncovered discovery that solves a major contradiction among these notoriously competing texts, new ideas can be inferred. For instance, if Rousseau’s attitude towards society is more realistic, as well as further aligned with Hobbes’s point of view than previously anticipated, this could suggest that Hobbes’s take on the preferability of society is more rooted in reality, rather than in optimism or idealism. Additionally, Rousseau’s acknowledgement of some of the benefits that result from civility could suggest that his motivations behind “Discourse on the Origin of Inequality” were driven by alternative