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Thoughts on Nature. The study of human nature has experienced much philosophical
thought throughout the Modern Age. While many modern ...
... connect with the father, in an effort to preserve his pleasurable thoughts about
mom ... do not understand that while the words may be sexual in nature, the concept ...
... and insight are always light, but when you fixate on objects outside, you get your
own essential nature covered by drifting clouds of errant thoughts, so you ...
... our thoughts about something that we originally perceived to be one what but actually
turned out completely different. When trying to understand the nature of ...
... nature is. This is the idea that nature has the power to force thoughts of
wonder and feelings too incredible to describe, onto man. ...
Submitted by markademics on March 30, 2008
Category: Philosophy
Words: 754 | Pages: 4
Views: 107
Popularity Rank: 90,151
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
The study of human nature has experienced much philosophical thought throughout the Modern Age. While many modern thinkers have developed unique ideas about man in the state of nature, none are more influential than the theories of Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In this essay, I am primarily concerned with defining what philosophical theory is more plausible in today’s society. Is human nature, just an environment of man against man; full of competiveness and violence, or is it a harmonized lifestyle as being one with nature without the corruption of society?
Each philosopher agrees that men are created equal in the state of nature, but it is this equality which forms two very contrasting theories. Hobbes believed the equality of men is the key factor which sets man against man and makes life “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” (Leviathan p. 84). For Hobbes, the only law in nature is survivalism; one must do what he must to preserve one’s own life. In contrast, Rousseau believed man is inherently good, independent, and compassionate in nature, it is society that corrupts man. If we replace our large civilizations with small groups in nature humanity would be much better off. As we can see, these theories are very distinct about man in the state of nature, but what led these men to hypothesize these theories.
Each philosopher’s theory is deeply rooted within the historical context in which they experienced their environment. To gain a better understanding of the attitudes adopted by Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, we must explore contributing factors that led to the composition of the theories presented.
Thomas Hobbes theorized that man in the state of nature, in which there is no sovereign, would be a violent, hostile place. In the state of nature there is a state of war, where every man is in competition to survive. For Hobbes the only law in nature is survivalism; one must do what he must to...
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