Comparing Locke And Rousseau

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Locke and Rousseau are influential philosophers that have a major impact on the foundation of modern governments. They both contributed to the development of the social contract theory. This theory is the idea that individuals agree to obey the laws of a government. Locke was also recognized for the creation of natural rights which includes the right to life, liberty, and property. Rousseau is also known for influencing the French revolution and other educational philosophies. While Locke and Rousseau share some ideas in social contract theory, they have differing opinions on the state of nature and how it affects human happiness. Locke defines nature to be the civil and political equality between all people. Conversely, Rousseau depicts the state of nature to be a time before a prehistoric time were …show more content…
He believes that the natural state of humans was before society existed when men only were concerned with survival and life overall was much simpler. In Rousseau's state of nature there is no property, inequality, or laws. People had limited interaction and the human consciousness was limited. However, in this state people could be truly happy since they didn't experience the downfall of inequality caused by property. Rousseau states "Man's first feeling was that of his existence, his first concern was that of his preservation" (Rousseau "On the Origin Inequality among Men" in CWT 133). The primal instinct to survive is the foundation of nature for Rousseau's state of nature. Rousseau describes the early state of man "The condition of nascent man; such was the life of an animal limited at first to mere sensation; and scarcely profiting from the gifts bestowed on him by nature" (Rousseau "On the Origin Inequality among Men" in CWT 133). Rousseau describes the ideal lifestyle to be animal-like and simplistic. This demonstrates how he believes the downfall of human nature is due the complexities of

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