The state of nature is one of the crucial concepts in political and moral philosophy. It is worth nothing that the state of nature is used in various fields, which include social contract theories, religion, as well as international law. It focuses on the lives of people before the societies existed. There are several philosophers that have elaborates on the state of nature of men. Some of the philosophers include Locke and Hobbes. They have developed various perceptions on issues of law, state, as well as right to property. The natural rights and natural law follow from various aspects of the world and man. Based on the kind of animals that humans are they have the right to defend both themselves and their property.
Hobbes and Locke came up with various perceptions regarding man in the state of nature. According to Hobbes, all human beings are equal based on the nature, especially in faculty of mind and body. The aspect of equality makes everyone in society to be willing naturally to fight one another. In the state of equality, everyone is entitles to natural liberty and natural right to do anything that it guarantees safety of life. Hobbes uses the concept of conservation of motion to elaborate on the state of nature (Harrison 20). Hobbes asserts that human beings at perpetual state in seeking something. It is the search to secure something in lie that brings commotions among people. Life is full of desires, and there is no point that life will not have desires. The fear of death is what creates a state. Hobbes focuses on the state of nature whereby everyone is at war against all. The ever search of the facility will make men to focus on increasing their strength and power.
Hobbes asserts that human beings are driven by three major factors. These factors are for the glory, for gain, as well as for safety. The aspects of morality according to Hobbes do not exist; this is because the state of nature does not have any room for the unjust. In fact, Hobbes claims that every aspect in society is justifying and calls it the natural right of liberty (Schrems 17). The individual rational behavior is what drives individuals to attack other people state of nature. Individuals are mostly excused for disobeying the law because the state of nature is full of fear and mutual suspicion. People will only act in a moral manner is other are doing the same.
On the other hand, Locke differs to perception of Hobbes regarding man state of nature. According to Locke, all men are free in the state of nature, rather than been equal as state by Hobbes. Locke asserts that the state of nature is always governed by the law of nature. The law of nature as stated by Locke is reason; this reason is very important in the state of nature since it guides individuals by informing that no one is very supposed to harm others in his property, liberty, as well as life. Locke vies of state of nature is driven from a Christian perspective and believes, while that of Hobbes does not depend on any theology.
It is worth nothing that Locke add the concept if morality and theology in his view. Locke states that all men are God’s creatures and no one has the right to harm the other. In fact, helping others is part of human responsibility, but there is an exception if the harm was intended for self defense. Individuals have the liberty and freedom to do anything that is permitted morally (Harrison 32). This is a complete contract from Hobbes views, whereby he stated that people have the right to do anything in a state of nature. The aspects of law enforcer in the state of nature are what Locke and Hobbes agree on. The enforcer entails being given power in the state of nature, which leads to the creation of governed system. Locke and Hobbes advocates equality since the law of nature empower everyone.
There are various rights that an individual secures in a state of nature. One of the important rights is the issue of private property. Locke uses religious claim to justify the ownership of private property in a state of nature (Schrems 46). Based on his claims, it is evident that Locke is an optimist in focusing on the state of nature. The scarcity of resources and presence of money is what drives people to work hard and increase their yield.
Hobbes believes that the state of nature is primitive and dangerous place to live; this is because the government or civilization has not interfered it. On the other hand, Locke believes that the state of nature is not primitive. Locke asserts that human beings will live a life full of freedom due to the absence of government and civilization. What is required of humans is only to observe and obey the natural law so as to eliminate bloodshed and violence. Just like the society today, other will not obey the natural law.
Work Cited
Harrison, Ross. Hobbes, Locke, and Confusion's Masterpiece: An Exhibition of Seventeenth- Century Political Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print.
Schrems, John J. Understanding Principles of Politics and the State. Lanham, Md: University Press of America, 2007. Print.
