Paper Summary:

The paper examines John Locke's theory, and shows how it is based on the fundamental right to own property. The paper explains that Locke sees property ownership as the beginning of civil society, and eventual justice. The paper then contrasts this view with Jean Jacques Rousseau's belief that property ownership is the root of all evil in society. The paper points out how Locke's vision derives from metaphysical considerations whereas Rousseau's is thoroughly materialistic. The paper also contrasts Locke's rationalism with Rousseau's Romantic emotionalism, and shows how Locke presupposes a free and democratic order of society whereas Rousseau presupposes communism.

From the Paper:

"Locke is seen as the preceptor of the rational tradition, whereas Rousseau that of Romanticism. Why this is so becomes apparent after we have examined their respective ideas on property and political freedom. At first glance their ideas on political freedom are similar. They both advance theories of "social contract", in which the people sacrifice an extent of their freedom towards the greater good of the state, so that political freedom implies living under a regime of law and order. The restriction of law provides the security and the stability that lends a meaningful context for individual freedom. However, their conceptions of political freedom are also different, and this difference is due to their differing conceptions of property. Locke sees the individual's right to property to be the basis of civil society, but civil society itself he views as a necessary evil. Rousseau, on the other hand, sees property as the source of all evil, and he envisages a social contract which denies to the individual the right to property, and proposes that this will give rise to a more just and equitable society."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. (Ed) Edwin M. Curley. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing, 1994.
• Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. (Ed) C. B. Macpherson. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing, 1980.
• Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Basic Political Writings. (Ed) Donald A. Cress. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing, 1987.

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