Hobbes vs. Rousseau - 1427 Words

Hobbes vs. Rousseau Drug abuse is obviously a huge issue in our country, but how would Hobbes and Rousseau’s opinions differ on it? Hobbes talks about individual self interests and punishment. Rousseau talks about education and socialization. The both believe however that the sovereign should decide these laws Hobbes’ law of nature can be summarized as a general rule discovered by reason that forbids a person from doing anything destructive to his own life and gives her the right of self-preservation. The laws of nature state that human beings must strive for peace, which will best be achieved by contract.(Hobbes 86) If people read this thought it would seem that Hobbes would think that drug use definitely would not fit this law.†¦show more content†¦Our society today makes suicide illegal, so we are thinking a lot like Rousseau. He does say, however, that† every man has a right to risk his own life in order to preserve it. People will argue that some people use drugs just to escape their emotional pain. The other argument made, like Rousseau says, â€Å"Would the same punishment be imputed on someone who perishes is a storm on the grounds he knew of the danger when he embarked?† Basically that says that people use drugs even though they know that it will hurt them; that goes against both Hobbes’ and Rousseau’s theories. Hobbes would think that the way to control the drug use is to have the sovereign decide everything when it comes to laws. Hobbes says that they â€Å"Judge of what doctrines are fit to be taught them.†(Hobbes 118) Rousseau states â€Å"He who makes the law knows better than anyone how it should be executed and interpreted.†(Rousseau 78) That means that he agrees with Hobbes and that the sovereign should be the one who decides our laws. This issue isn’t a big issue of patriotism, but is very egocentric. Rousseau says that â€Å"every wrongdoer attacks the society’s law and becomes a traitor to the country.†(Rousseau 79) We don’t feel that people who break laws (unless it is treason or something like that.) to be unpatriotic. We still think someone who uses drugs is an American. Hobbes is all aboutShow MoreRelatedThe Social Contract : Hobbes Vs. Rousseau1457 Words   |  6 PagesThe Social Contract: Hobbes vs. Rousseau Since the beginning of the modern age, governments and states have existed in order to maintain moral law. Essentially these institutions are for the greater good of humanity. However, little thought is ever given to how humans lived without governments. Each and every person in the modern age is born into a state, and becomes a part of that state regardless of their will. 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