Locke and Rousseau on Economic Inequality

Paper Summary:

This essay compares and contrasts two theoretical models regarding economic inequality. The first is presented by John Locke in his "Second Treatise of Government", which addresses the origins of economic inequality. The second, which is in sharp distinction to these views, is presented by French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality". The paper outlines the strengths and weaknesses of both. It argues that, while both works are very similar in their imagined origins of economic inequality in the early history of property, they differ radically in how they represent property and the justifications for its differing accumulations that ultimately give rise to economic inequality. The paper concludes that Locke envisions property and moderate levels of economic inequality as a good thing, while Rousseau condemns this inequality as a corrupting influence upon human society in every respect.

From the Paper:

"However, while there is a superficial similarity between how Locke and Rousseau each conceive of the state of nature, there is one important distinction between the two: property. While Locke conceives, as noted above, of an equality of property as existing in the state of nature, Rousseau contends that the innovation of property itself marked the ending of the state of nature and the beginning of human society.
"This is an important difference, and it goes to the heart of how each philosopher conceives of economic inequality. For example, it is clear from the outset of Rousseau's description of the state of nature and its defining characteristics that he sees property as not only a negative aspect of human society but as being fundamentally illegitimate as well."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. Ed. C.B. Macpherson. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1980.
• Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. A Discourse on a Subject Proposed by the Academy of Dijon: What is the Origin of Inequality Among Men, and Is it Authorized by Nature Law. Trans. G.D.H. Cole. The Constitution Society. Accessed: March 4, 2007. http://www.constitution.org/jjr/ineq.htm

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