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Man in the original state of natureHobbes,

Locke, and Rousseau

Hobbes: Thomas Hobbes is great English philosopher, who is known for his book Leviathan. He describes

the English Civil War in this book. He describes that how people at that time feel unsafe. He states about

the human nature. According to him humans are the creator of this nature and state of nature is equal

to the state of war. Hobbes states that every human performing any work either it is good or bad is for

his own. He had become selfish at that state. He also tells that all men are equal. According to him all

men are gifted equally physically and mentally as a weak person can kill a strong person. There are three

reasons for this war according to Hobbes. Frist is competition, Second is distrust and third is powerful

reputation. After these reasons Hobbes concluded that everyone is in war. There is no place fordevelopment. Everyone is in fear. There are no such condition for importing from sea, moving from one

place to another, no art, no society, no knowledge which is responsible for more violation of deaths.

Therefore the life of people becomes poor, nasty and short. He says that the war is not with any nation

or country, it is with one man to another. There is a need for ending this state of war, therefore he

purposed the theory of sovereign. According to this theory, a person or a set of persons have authority

to make laws as people can lead a safe and healthy life.Hobbes believed in the existence of a perfect

monarchy.

Locke: John Locke, who is known as father of philosophy, disagreed with the theory of Hobbes.

According to him there is no need of sovereign or government. According to him everyone is free andthey can do what they want. But doesnt means that anyone can abuse other and natural law exist he

also marked that. According to him Hobbes was wrong and everyone is free to do what they wanted to

do but they had to follow the state of nature. According to Hobbes in the state of nature everyone had

right to do any thing, even they can kill someone if they want. But Locke said that the state of nature is

doing anything but without harming anyones morality.

Rousseau:Jean Jacques Rousseau had a different opinion. He doesnt disagrees with Hobbes and Locke.

He said that men is happy in the state of nature as he is protecting himself from destruction. He believes

that Hobbes was not completely right. Because he states that state of nature is equal to state of war. He

defines state of nature for men to fulfill his basic needs. His definition is different from Locke as hesimply means that try to not to harm anyone and avoid war. As he wanted to make people fearless. And

in war people feel feared and terrible. He also disagrees with all men are equal. Hobbes and Lockes

theory of social contract and sovereignty is not so correct according to Rousseau. So sovereignty does

not take place.

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My personal view

Hobbes states that state of nature is equal to state of war, he gives the theory of sovereignty. Locke said

that there is no need of sovereignty as people can live in state of nature. But Rousseaus point was very

impressive to me as he said that people should live in original state of nature.

Sanchit Jain

Section-B(B.A.L.L.B) 1st

year

Roll No. 20100126