Locke: In Rousseau's Eye
The state of nature, as described by Locke, is a state of perfect freedom, a state in which man is completely free, but would Rousseau agree with this? The answer to this question is more complex than it seems. Locke and Rousseau, both great philosophers of their time, have similar ideas, but the similarities between them end at that. They have very different views on just about every philosophical topic and retain these differences. When comparing two of their works, The Social Contract, Rousseau, and Second Treatise of Government, Locke, the differences between them become clear. It almost seems that The Social Contract was written to combat Locke's Second Treatise of Government, and if so, his point comes across very clearly. Rousseau begins this work on political theory much in the way Locke did, with a discussion on the state of nature. This is the point at which we see our first difference between Locke and Rousseau. Locke describes it as a state in which every person has power over no one but himself or herself and has the freedom to do as they please without endangering others. He also states that natural man follows a set of natural laws in which he can punish any transgressor in a manner that fits the crime
In the state of war, we are not longer governed my reason, but a force. That is where the difference between the two lies. When man exists in nature, without the influence of a governing faction, we tend to govern our selves according to reason. However, when this reason rails to exist, and we govern ourselves by force, war ensues. In this state of war, the innocent parties have the right to continue the war until the transgressors give reparations for the deeds. These reparations can often end in a state of slavery in which slave gives up all of the rights given to him by the state of nature to the master. At this point a contrast can be clearly drawn between Rousseau and Locke. Rousseau openly denounces the idea of slavery in the opening of The Social Contract. He feels that a state of slavery is unnatural and should be avoided. Rousseau proposes and answer to this problem in the form of the social contract. It calls for every individual in a community to surrender themselves to the community which acts as an entity all its own. Being one entity, it is important for the society to function as one. The "sovereign" is indivisible and should fully express the will of those living within it. The expression of the will of those within the state is the law, which like human nature tends to move towards good as opposed to evil, and is expected to be followed by those residing in the state. There is, however, a problem that arises when we enter this society. The state is abstract and therefore needs a physical manifestation; a "lawgiver". Once the
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Approximate Word count = 1058
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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