State Of Natures Essay Research Paper Question

State Of Natures Essay, Research Paper

Question: Taking the views of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau into account why and how do you think man moved from the State of Nature to a Civil Society.

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, all in common discuss men s movement from the State of Nature to a Civil Society and an agreement that made man accepting the Civil Society called Social Contract theory which is the view that morality is founded solely on uniform social agreements that serve the best interests of those who make the agreement.

Hobbes version of the State of Nature and the Social Contract theory is much more impressive of all three philosopher and it is the most unusual of the three because of defending the authority of the ruler in other words, the absolute authority.

The State of Nature defined by Hobbes as the Natural condition of mankind was not natural to men , it was a condition of unprecedented rigour and fear of death and injury which lacks any kind of development such as culture and industry. According to Hobbes man, has desires and he can satisfact his desires if he has power . One of the reasons that made man to move from State of Nature to a Civil Society is the restless desire for Power The Power of a man is his present means, to obtain.

…I put for a general inclination of all man kind a perpetuall and restlesse desire of power after power, that ceaseth onely in death.(Leviathan p 150,161)

It can be understood from the quotation that man is by nature tries to maximise his power. Men are power seekers this cause a political predicament, a chaos, because for someone power can mean power over someone else. This makes human life a struggle for power in a State of Nature. In addition to that there is one other aspect : The equality of body and mind.

…Nature hath made men so equal, in the faculties of body and mind; as though there bee found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body, or quicker mind than another… …From this equality of ability of hope in the attaining of our ends. And therefore if any two men desire the same thing which neverthless they cannot both enjoy they become enemies; and in the way to their end,… endeavour to destroy or subdue one another.(Leviathan 183-184).

The Natural relation of men is because of this competition has no natural limit and their relations consist fear. This fear is the fear of destruction by rivals and enemies, leading to anticipation which is attack is the best form of self defence Therefore according to Hobbes competition and diffidence makes the State of Nature a condition of war of every man, against every man. From the Hobessian point of view this is a reason why people moved from a State of Nature into a Civil Society.

One other reason that caused such a movement from a State of Nature to a Civil Society is the lack of the definition of just and unjust. Because a right to get everything you can get and do everything you can do in a war of everyone against everyone, nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice are not valid. There is good and evil but man call what he desires good and calls what he hates evil . The definitions are subjective; changes for every individual. This was the condition of men and it was the consequences of their natural liberty and equality it was inevitable for them to leave this condition and entering a civil society, which is harmonious and would be desired by every individual in the State of Nature.

Men are full of passion but they have reason as much as they have passion. Hobbes thinks that some passions force man to have peace. These are forexample things such as an ease and comfortable life and an industrial society can have it. These reasons and in addition to that the fear of death forced them to make convenient articles of peace, by which man can have better conditions. These articles are called The Laws of Nature . These laws were general rules, which were found by reason by which people were restricted to do things, which are destructive to their lives. These laws fit to the self-interest and also common interest of men and this is how according to Hobbes people moved to the civil society.

In conclusion to Hobbes point of view, men for the sake of peace, made a contract to renounce their natural liberty , and people depending on promises accepted the social contract.

In Lockean perspective of the State of Nature, the condition is not a war. He defines the State of Nature as men living together without a common judge having authority over them. But this State of Nature of peace, good will , mutual assistance, and preservation (Second treaties chapter 2). Locke mentions that the State of War once begin will continue and that escaping from this State of War is why people moved from this State of Nature to a Civil Society.

One significant thing that is absent in Locke s State of Nature and differs it from the civil society is the absence of a common power: which is according to Locke is a common judge.

Locke s State of Nature is made up with a set of Natural Laws and Natural Rights, which can provide peace if people respect to them. People moved to civil society because they didn t respect to these Natural Laws and Natural Rights. People do not respect to these laws because there isn t punishment when not respected therefore everyone judges