Introduction
People have been trying to cognize themselves as a phenomenon since the dawn of time. Indeed, there are many eminent philosophers trying to find answers to the main questions about humanity’s purposes and motivators. It is generally agreed that John Locke and Thomas Hobbes succeeded in creating a keen understanding of human identity. However, their theories seem to differ in some key points. Hobbes’ judgment appears to be more reasonable than Locke’s inferences because of his realistic approach to mankind.
Hobbes’ Characterization of Man in the State of Nature
Admittedly, there were thousands of wars in the past because of the lack of different resources, from gold to cheap labor force. Therefore, some nations would constantly win and become wealthy by conquering property that was not their by rights. In this case, the opposite side would lose and lose before fading into oblivion or rising from ashes and redeeming position. Such an everlasting state of war could seem natural for humanity, because being equal they could hardly achieve similar conditions that would satisfy them all.
In fact, many wars were commenced in the name of noble things like faith or honor. Nevertheless, the true reasons can hardly be advocated as they represent the most disgraceful human traits like greed, vanity, and thirst for blood. According to Hobbes, such behavior corresponds to human nature because people are likely to yield to their temptations (Darat, 2017). Their equality is considered a negative thing because they deserve the same, but they strive for privileges often taking something away from one another. Thus, human nature is viewed pessimistically, yet true to life. Nowadays there are still many conflicts in the world. People have proclaimed human rights paramount importance after Hobbes, Locke, and other philosophers, yet presumably never approached poetical justice.
Locke’s Perception of the State of Nature
There is a more optimistic view of the natural condition of mankind or the so-called state of nature. Locke also supports the idea that everybody deserves freedom and equality but sees no correlation between natural rights and constant fight. In fact, “Men living together according to reason, without a common Superior on Earth, with Authority to judge between them, is properly the State of Nature. But force, or a declared designed of force upon the Person of another, where there is no common Superior on Earth to appeal to for relief, is the State of War (as cited in Locke, 1823, p. 113). It means if people fail to listen to the voice of morality, they undergo the transitional period from natural state of peace to war.
Conclusion
All things considered, humanity purposes seems to be a very controversial topic. Judging by the everlasting character of military conflicts in the world and the absence of verified periods of time when no wars took place, war is the state of nature. It would be too optimistic to believe in God’s will in compliance with Locke. To consider wars as many of cases when people failed to listen to Reason is possibly old-fashioned and naive.
References
Darat, N. (2017). Ghobbes as a sociobiologist:. Rethinking the state of (human) nature.Kriterion: Revista de Filosofia, 58(136), 163-183. Web.
Fuller, G., Stecker, R., & Wright, J. P. (Eds.). (2000). John Locke: An essay concerning human understanding in focus. Routledge.