The significance of reason is discussed both in John Locke's, The Second

Treatise of Civil Government, and in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's, Emile. However,

the definitions that both authors give to the word "reason" vary significantly.

I will now attempt to compare the different meanings that each man considered to

be the accurate definition of reason.

John Locke believed that the state "all men are naturally in ... is a

state of perfect freedom" (122), a state in which they live "without ...

depending upon the will of any other man" (122). It is called the "the state of

nature," and it is something that is within us at birth. The state of nature is

a law made by God, called the Law of Reason. This law gives humankind liberty,

freedom, and equality and stresses that no man "ought to harm another in his

life, liberty, or possessions" (123). According to Locke, the law of reason is

the basis of man as well as society. It restrains men from infringing on the

rights of others. In this state, there is no need for a central authority

figure to govern the actions of people, for it is the people, themselves, who

the social contract should be done as soon as possible.

restrain offenders" (124) and punish those who transgress against them and

societies for as long as possible. But Locke did not feel this way. He thought

in fact, are in a form of the state of nature, themselves, so people don't have

leads a person into the state of society through a social contract.

disturb their "state of nature." Thus, all men are their own "executioner[s] in

inevitably, cause change. And in order for society to remain stable, change is

Some common words found in the essay are:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Law Reason, According Locke, John Locke, Rousseau's Emile, social contract, law reason, Significance Reason, Rousseau Locke, significance reason, nature law, locke believed, enter society, john locke, child learn, law nature, reject law, Locke's Treatise, Treatise Civil, Civil Government, reason entering social, reason john locke, nature law reason, people reject law, learn abstract reasoning,
Approximate Word count = 1326
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)