POLS 2496 Lecture 5: Rousseau, Locke, and Freud

• School: Temple University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 2496
• Professor: Botwinick

Document Summary

Impossible to prove whether or not a state of nature ever existed: this state never was, man was organized in his origins, in the state of nature, men can flight or flee (contrary to hobbesian theory) Slavery degenerates a man: metaphysical and moral man, man can choose to reject his instinct, man only desires what he physically needs and only fears pain (man cannot fear death) Fundamental law of nature: preservation of man: right to kill noxious creatures, enslavement of someone is initiating war with them, justification of killing a thief: he would take my liberty if given the chance. State of nature: reason, no common superior on earth, authority to judge. State of war: force upon another without right, no common superior to provide relief: the sufferers of war can only appeal to heaven, authority mediates the state of war. Slaves cannot be considered part of civil society: man cannot have absolute authority.