The nature of human beings could be argued in many ways. Some may say it's our nature to be "good." Others may claim that we are born naturally "indifferent" or "wicked." As John Locke puts it, I believe that men are created in a "tabula rasa" manner. Meaning that human beings are created a blank tablet and it's up to society, our environment, and experiences that create and shape our character. We are neither born good or evil, but neutral until someone or something molds our personality, changing and molding until we become what our experiences have made us. Some have grown to be ones who enjoy helping others and strive to create a society in which we are all created equal and live in

Societies and government were created and instituted for the well being and safety of humans. Since we are free-spirited and are able to think and believe on our own, we all have different ideas that we feel we should act upon. I think it was best put by John Locke in Two Treatises on Civil Government, "Men being, as has been said, by nature all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate and subjected to the political power of another without his own consent, which is done by agreeing with other men, to join and unite into a community for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living, one amongst another, in a secure enjoyment of their properties, and a greater security against any that are not of it" (Locke 87). If there wasn't a government or laws to help control the behavior and actions of human beings, we could all do what we please and live in a world of complete chaos. Laws were established in order to forbid acts that put others in danger. Hobbes mentions that "a good law is that which is 'needed' for the 'good of the people' and 'perspicuous.' For the use of the laws, which are but rules authorized, is not to bind the people from all voluntary actions but to direct and keep them in a such a motion as not to hurt themselves by their oven impetuous desires, rashness, or indiscretion; as hedges are set not to stop travellers, but to keep them in their way" (Hobbes 37). Here, Thomas Hobbes tells us that government and laws aren't created merely to stop humans from living freely as they wish, but to keep some control and restrictions in order to keep themselves and others safe and out of harms way. It would be illegal to commit homicide on the mere fact that you just didn't like a person. Creating a law that forbids this makes us as humans aware that if this act is committed, then we will have to face the consequences. These consequences could be as minor as a small fine or attending a program, to something more severe such as a lifetime in jail or the death penalty. Without any laws or someone to govern us and lead the way, human beings would have no restrictions. Having restrictions allows us to think hard on our actions knowing that forbidding the law and committing "crimes" will lead to a consequence that will not be pleasant.

peace. Yet, there are others who have grown to be power hungry, selfish, gr

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Approximate Word count = 1590
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)