John Locke And Rousseau's State Of Nature

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Locke and Rousseau both discuss the topic of state of nature. They both agree that self-preservation is a fundamental rule in the state of nature. Locke says “Everyone, as he is bound to preserve himself…ought he, as much as he can, to preserve the rest of mankind” (§6) and Rousseau likewise states that one fundamental principle is “our well-being and our self-preservation” (14). They both agree that man has a genuine concern and care for humanity. Although they share this idea, the two are utterly different. Locke believes that in the state of nature, man has been granted many powers that enable him to have more options and decisions. While Rousseau believes man is a savage animal and lives with bare-necessities and limited knowledge. Locke …show more content…

Locke establishes that in the state of nature, men have both reason and executive power (§6 & 7). When a man uses his power to judge, he must know and interact with other men to evaluate if the accused man acts for good or bad intentions. Thus in Locke’s state of nature men interact with one another and aware of others and are concerned about them. Thus when the time arrives and natural men decides it will be best to leave the uncertainty in nature the men will “join in society with others, who are already united… for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties, and estates” (§ 123). Together everyone will be concerned for one another and with their principle “to preserve the res t of mankind” (§6) will join to benefit everyone. Although in Rousseau’s state of nature, men are savages and isolated, “man’s first sentiment was that of his own existence” (44). Thus savage men always depends on himself for survival. Therefore when he joins with others, he will do so because he understands that they will aid him in achieving his necessities for life. Savage man will join to society to better himself because he only knows himself and his concerns. Locke and Rousseau both know natural man had to depart from the state of nature, but they differed for who would benefit in joining together. How natural man behaved and interacted in the state of nature decided why he would join

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