How are john locke and jean-jacques rousseau alike

Locke examined the nature of political power finding that it is a right of making laws, with (at its most extreme end) the ability to administer penalties of death in the name of regulating and preserving property. In order to understand this better, the question he asks is: what is man’s State of Nature? For Locke, it is a state of perfect freedom and equality, and civil society emerges to secure freedom. All men exist independently and on their own in this State of Nature. Following this, his conception of nature is based on reason which is markedly different than Hobbes, who bases his understanding of nature on passion. The State of Nature, for Locke, is not a state of war.

For Locke, all men are born free (similar to Rousseau) and government is limited in it’s power because it only exists through consent by the governed. Where Rousseau and Locke differ is in Rousseau’s belief that civilization corrupts.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712–1778

Writing after Locke, Rousseau reminds us of the differences between the ancients and the moderns. Namely, the differences between a city built on virtue versus a city founded on comfort or self-preservation made possible through scientific discoveries. Rousseau was interested in reviving good citizenship based upon courage and moderation. Rousseau was a small “r” republican while Locke is considered one of the founders of classical Liberalism. While Hobbes refutes Aristotle, Rousseau, in some ways, revives him.

Rousseau famously begins the Social Contract by writing, “Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” This automatically suggests that all existing regimes are in fact illegitimate affirming the notion that civil society corrupts because money becomes the standard of human worth and virtue is left behind. The concentration (by Hobbes) on preservation destroys an orientation towards the good life. For Rousseau, progress in the arts and sciences ushered in by the Enlightenment do not improve morality, but lead to moral corruption. Luxury and leisure emerge from the desire for unnecessary comforts, vices of the soul.

If that answer's your question!

good morning!

your answer would be b. character vs. society.

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~courtney

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