Comparing Hobbes, Locke, And Rousseau's State Of Nature

What does it mean to be in state of nature? The idea state of nature has no definite meaning because it is perceived differently by different philosophers. Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau each discussed state of nature and why political societies had to established. To understand the views of each philosopher about the state of nature we first have to understand what they think about human beings in a natural state. Hobbes believes humans to be fearful of death, wretched and in constant war with one another. Locke believes humans to be perfectly free and have morals. Thus, people in Locke’s state of nature have some kind of rights called natural right whereas, Hobbes believed beings in the state of nature to be a moral, meaning there is no right or wrong. Rousseau believes human beings to be “Noble Savages” and free and equal. Rousseau is the
most optimistic or liberal, Locke is in the middle and Hobbes is the pessimistic or conservative. Hobbes’ believes that state of nature is a state of war, where there is no trust, everyone is scared and constant battle amongst individuals. In his state of nature there is no lawn of any kind and nor is there any advancements such as art, industry, agriculture or science because everyone is trying to stay alive. If there is no law he concludes there will be no morality furthermore, people will me a moral leading to no justice. On the other hand, Hobbes does say everyone is equal in the sense that everyone is capable to kill and survive. The reason he gives for this misery in the state of nature is competition. No one trusts or likes everyone one and everyone is hungry to satisfy themselves. People want what is best for them and glory causing them to not think of the consequences of their action and the effect on other. Survival is everyone’s goal and they achieve that no matter the cost, it is the survival of the fittest. The reason human beings do wrong in the state of nature is selfishness, that is the same reason they wish to leave the state of nature and move towards a political state. Human being fear death which gives them motivation to cooperate. They choose not to do harm if others will not do harm to them. People make a contract or agreement which establishes a power above in other words a government. Hobbes believes humans will get what they want in a most efficient way possible in the political state. In the state of nature there is no civil rights or laws, but there is right by nature. The rights by nature are the basis on which a political state is built upon. Rights of nature allows to use any means necessary for self-defense, also individuals seek peace to lower hostility and are willing to do what is necessary to bring about peace. A contract between individuals, rights of nature and selfishness is what brings individuals to seek and build a political society and without political state humans could not exist in the view of Hobbes. Locke believes humans in the state of nature understand the difference between right and wrong and have understanding of morality.
Locke believes the state of nature to be a place of equality and justice because everyone has the same power, no one has more than someone else and everyone has the same advantages of nature. People have perfect freedom in the bounds of laws of nature. There is a governing force in Locke’s state of nature preserves liberty, life, and possession. Laws of nature are in place to ensure everyone is able to practice perfect freedom and anyone who tries to break the boundaries they are punished. Locke says to have perfect freedom does not mean to have license. Thus humans have the capability to reason they want to improve their lives and they do that by obtaining property. Anything that is previously unclaimed can be can be improved by one’s efforts then that becomes the person’s property. Locke states a rational person will try to do the right thing and wont disturb else. Also when an individual acquires property they should leave some for other because unlike Hobbes he doesn’t think people are
selfish.