Locke and Rousseau CompareContrast

Although their ideologies sometimes clashed, and they came from two distinctly different epochs in the course of political development, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s fundamental arguments address several similar points. These five main themes which significantly overlap and thus cannot be addressed separately, are the state of nature, the basis for the development of government, the primary intent of government, the state of war, and the ultimate effect of the state on the individual …

…strong emphasis on limited government, which is a fundamental component of the ideologies of both the modern republican and libertarian parties. Despite the fact that Locke and Rousseau’s ideas clearly exemplify both sides of the modern political spectrum (Locke representing the right, and Rousseau the left), a balance between Locke’s desire for protection of the individual liberties and Rousseau’s need for a structured society had managed to balance itself out quite well.