On the Virtues of Private Property in Locke and Rousseau Essay

On the Virtues of Private Property in Locke and Rousseau John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau, following their predecessor Thomas Hobbes, twain attempt to explain the development and dissolution of society and government. They begin, as Hobbes did, by defining the state of naturea time before man assemble rational thought. In the Second Treatise1 and the Discourse on Inequality2, Locke and Rousseau, respectively, all(a)ot forward very interesting and different accounts of the state of nature and the evolution of man, but the close astonishing difference between the two is their conceptions of property. Both right on recognize the origin of property to be grounded in mans natural lust to improve his life, but they differ in their description of the go forth of such a desire. Locke sees the need and purpose of society to protect property as something inspirational to mankind, while Rousseau sees property as the cause of the corruption and eventual(prenominal) downfal l of society. Although Rousseau raises interesting and applicable observations, Lockes argument triumphs because he successfully shows the positive and substantive effect of property on man. In order to canvass either philosophers views on property and its origins, it is necessary to go back to the beginning of forgiving development, as it were, and discuss their different conceptions of the state of nature. As fence to Hobbes whose peck of the state of nature was a state of war, Lockes state of nature is a time of peace and stability. We must consider what raise all Men are naturally in, and that is, a State of perfect FreedomA State also of Equality, wherein all the Power and Jurisdiction is reciprocal, no cardinal having more than another. (Locke, Second Tre... ... we have can never be a negative. However, Rousseaus visual sensation of ambition being the downfall of society is flawed. Individuals may be corrupted and may fall, but innovation improves greater soc iety more than it hurts it. Locke successfully argued this, and is unless shown to be on the mark by how much his vision resembles our present day society in comparison to Rousseaus predictions.1 Locke, John. The Second Treatise. Ed. Peter Laslett. Cambridge University extract Cambridge, 1988.2 Rousseau, Jean Jacque. Discourse on Inequality. Ed. Victor Gourevitch. Cambridge University Press Cambridge, 1997.3 wholly textbook citations for Second Treatise will be given in the format of chapter.paragraph.4 All text citations for Discourse on Inequality (also called the Second Discourse) will be given in the format of part.paragraph. On the Virtues of Private Property in Locke and Rousseau EssayOn the Virtues of Private Property in Locke and Rousseau John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau, following their predecessor Thomas Hobbes, both attempt to explain the development and dissolution of society and government. They begin, as Hobbes did, by defining the state of naturea time before man found rational thought. In the Second Treatise1 and the Discourse on Inequality2, Locke and Rousseau, respectively, put forward very interesting and different accounts of the state of nature and the evolution of man, but the most astonishing difference between the two is their conceptions of property. Both correctly recognize the origin of property to be grounded in mans natural desire to improve his life, but they differ in their description of the result of such a desire. Locke sees the need and purpose of society to protect property as something sacred to mankind, while Rousseau sees property as the cause of the corruption and eventual downfall of society. Although Rousseau raises interesting and applicable observations, Lockes argument triumphs because he successfully shows the positive and essential effect of property on man. In order to examine either philosophers views on property and its origins, it is necessary to go b ack to the beginning of human development, as it were, and discuss their different conceptions of the state of nature. As opposed to Hobbes whose vision of the state of nature was a state of war, Lockes state of nature is a time of peace and stability. We must consider what State all Men are naturally in, and that is, a State of perfect FreedomA State also of Equality, wherein all the Power and Jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another. (Locke, Second Tre... ... we have can never be a negative. However, Rousseaus vision of ambition being the downfall of society is flawed. Individuals may be corrupted and may fall, but innovation improves greater society more than it hurts it. Locke successfully argued this, and is further shown to be on the mark by how much his vision resembles our present day society in comparison to Rousseaus predictions.1 Locke, John. The Second Treatise. Ed. Peter Laslett. Cambridge University Press Cambridge, 1988.2 Rousseau, Jean Jacque. Discourse on Inequality. Ed. Victor Gourevitch. Cambridge University Press Cambridge, 1997.3 All text citations for Second Treatise will be given in the format of chapter.paragraph.4 All text citations for Discourse on Inequality (also called the Second Discourse) will be given in the format of part.paragraph.