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What Is John Locke's View On Society

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To expand on Locke’s views on society, he purposed that humans are naturally good, with similar morals, unlike the savage’s other philosophers like Hobbes claims (Rogers 3). In the state of nature, humans will be available to survive and thrive if left to their own devices. According to his Tabula Rasa epistemologist theory, humans do not have all the knowledge they can ever know already within them at birth, as they are born with a ‘blank slate’ (Rogers 4). Therefore, they are also born equal, hence free as their all born the same, making no one lesser or higher than another. Thus, humans have inalienable rights of life, liberty and property that are equal, and concrete (Connolly 1). Locke, a heavy advocate for the importance of natural law …show more content…

Individuals have a duty to preserve oneself, preserve others when self preservation does not conflict, not to take the life of others or act in a method that destroys them (Rogers 3). People are good only if it does not interfere with their own self preservation. Hence, the government is only in place to protect the rights of the people from being taken away by others, but humans would not be barbarians without strict organisational control either. Humans can be trusted to know what is in their best interest when given the chance. Similarly, Smith believed that humans know what is best for themselves. Every person should have the freedom and liberty to live their lives as only the person themselves can know and do what’s in their best interest (Adam Smith 11). There is no leader, regardless of how intelligent and capable, that can complete and provide the best for every individual within the community thus a democratic state is ideal. Smith has a fond view of the human species, as they may be greedy and selfish, but those are not necessary negative attributes if used correctly. Self love he claimed was not “a principle which could never be virtuous in any degree” (Adam Smith 5). Self interest could create benefits for the good of society. This is where his invisible hand theory plays a part in the

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