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The Main Arguments Between Thomas Hobbes And Jean Rousseau

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The Main Arguments Between Thomas Hobbes And Jean Rousseau
The main arguments between Thomas Hobbes natural state of man and Jean Rousseau’s natural state of man, where there is no society or government over us, is whether man in naturally selfish and out for his/her own personal gain and protection or if we would naturally come together for the betterment of all persons and cooperation. I will first be talking about Hobbes’ view point of the state of nature of man and then Rousseau’s objection to Hobbes and his differing thoughts about the state of nature of man.
Thomas Hobbes Leviathan is written as an argument for advocating for an absolute monarchy or totalitarian government in which one third party person or Leviathan has complete control over all those who live in his realm. The authority figure would make all decisions regarding ‘just’ and ‘injustice’ ordeals and ultimately between life and death and the citizens just must obey the law full headily. …show more content…
He states “…and therefore if two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both have, they become enemies…” (Leviathan ch.XIII par3). Therefore the “natural state of man” in Hobbes’ point of view is one of purely self-interested and anything or more specifically anyone that threatens our own wellbeing and development and gains is an enemy. In this state of nature, we act only for the betterment of ourselves and not for society which is why we must be governed by an absolute leader so we do not exist in this savage state of pure
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