Locke and Rousseau

John Locke and Rousseau were both great philosophers of their time but had different views on the same topics.  Both men shared their opinions of the State of Nature, the State of War, and Civil Society with the public.

According to Locke the State of Nature is a civilization where humans are born free, born good natured, and equal. Locke believes humans are naturally in a state of “perfect freedom” (Locke¶4) and a “state of liberty” (¶6).  Although Locke thinks a State of Nature is not best for human kind, he considers a human’s natural duty is to, no less love others than themselves (¶5).   Even if Locke thinks a State of Nature is full of naturally good and free people, he knows one more element is necessary to keep the civilization in balance: equality.  Locke says,

A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another; there being nothing more evident than that creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages of nature… should also be equal one amongst another without subordination or subjection.(¶4).

This quote shows that for a nation to function complete equality needs to be present.

On the other hand Rousseau believes the State of Nature is a civilization where humans are naturally free and good, but are “Noble Savages”.  To Rousseau humans are good because, “They are self-sufficient and thus not subject to the vices of political society” (Line 5).  Rousseau says, “Man is born free, and everywhere he is chains” (Line 4, Social Contract).  What Rousseau means is that man is naturally free but he is put into chains by society.  The term Noble Savage is a term first used by John Dryden, but is attributed to Rousseau.  The Noble Savage, to Rousseau, is a human was a murderer and what today would be known as evil, but when compared to the savages own time period would be good and normal.

Civil Society is an idea of civilization which is closer to how we live today.  Locke believes that, laws are necessary to “preserve and enlarge freedom” (Locke iii). Locke thinks the change between the State of Nature and Civil Society does not change the character of humans from good to bad.  Locke claimed that,