There are two conclusions in usual about human nature. Once says that human is evil by nature by Hobbes and other says that human is good by nature by Rousseau. Both of them is in an important comparison for years. First of all I want to explain both of them with details. Let’s start with Hobbes’s opinion.
Hobbes believes, it is reasonable to distrust others and use preemptive strikes against one’s enemies. Hobbes also considers humans to be naturally vainglorious and so seek to dominate others and demand their respect. The natural condition of mankind, according to Hobbes, is a state of war in which life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” because individuals are in a “war of all against all.’’ In the state of nature “nothing can be Unjust’ since the ‘notions of Right and Wrong, Justice and Injustice have there no place.
Rousseau defines human beings as distinct from other sentient beings by virtue of two essential characteristics, which are already present in the state of nature: 1) human freedom, and 2) perfectibility. According to Rousseau, in the state of nature, people tended to be isolated, war was absent, and their desires were minimal and circumscribed
I agree with Hobbes about that topic. First of all it can be proof that why there are a lot of murder, harassment, massacre, rape, injustice. Not for all of us but also I agree that people are selfish most of the time and make decisions for their benefits and while makin these decisions they are ready to set at naught everyone and that is sad. Another reason is it is definitely most realistic than the other one because Rousseau believes that it is the society and culture that make people bad and violent and adds that without them people are peaceful but without a society and culture what defines human spesifically?
Also Rousseau defends that we should stick to individuality everyone would be living happily. Again I am asking the same question: Doesn’t society a thing that defines human spesifically also gives people nice features beside bad features?
Hobbes says that humanity is competitive. Yes, because without competition no achievement can be achieved. Competition gives us passion –another thing that Hobbes says- and this passion helps us to develop.
Trust was a problem for years and still it is. When we trust everyone unconditionally it doesn’t turn out well. Under a topic we can say it is reasonable to distrust others as Hobbes.
Last but not least Hobbes says: No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.