Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes are two great writers in the 16 and 17 hundreds. Each of them epitomizes the general philosophical periods of their age, Hobbes and the Empiricist, and Rousseau with the Romantics. The social contract is a huge part of the conflict between the two. Even with the fundamental basis for both arguments, they are developed in differing ways. Hobbes believes that without it, people would not be able to live near each other with out killing one another, for the appetite will not ever be fulfilled. Rousseau, on the other hand does not believe in the contract, and deems it true that nature is the only guide available to us, and the only guide we need. He has problems with the contract that affects the mental, moral and physical aspects of the noble savage.

These two authors have a very different view of what people should do in this world. Thomas Hobbes believes for the benefit of oneself, it is better to sign the social contract. This means that you will not try to cross over another's rights in order to satisfy your increasing desires and needs. If one does cross over this line, then you will have to pay the consequences to the supreme autho

Jean-Jacques Rousseau on the other hand does not like the social contract, like most romantics. He believes that society has destroyed us as a whole, and it causes us to be weak physically and mentally. Rousseau believes that we were perfect the day we were born. We are born with perfect knowledge and morals, ingrained in us instinctually. Any learning or society degrades our body and brains. The result of signing the social contract is we end up losing our bodily constitution, for we are apt to be less active with all the technology available to us. This is an irreversible process, once the social contract has been signed; you can not revert to your primary, natural self, for you will always remember the technology.

rity. This enables man to live relatively safe with each other. Another benefit to the social contract is the fact that you will be able to satisfy more of your desires and needs, for you don't have to worry as much about keeping the belongings you already possess. This sounds great, but in order to sign this contract, you must give up the some of your fundamental rights to everything. You must turn them over to the Leviathan, who watches over your stuff, and tries to keep you protected. Giving up rights is a hard thing to do, but as Hobbes explains, it is necessary for increased personal safety and profit.

Thomas Hobbes

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