Running head: ROUSSEAU AND LOCKE THEORY 1

Rousseau and Locke Theory

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ROUSSEAU AND LOCKE THEORY 2

Rousseau and Locke Theory

Option 1

According to John Locke, citizenship is attained when an individual can be able to

identify with facilities of a specific nation. It is referred to as silent or tacit consent. Locke’s

theory is about natural laws and rights. The differing interpretation of these two laws is that

natural laws relate to all and others which works in the aspects where they are specifically

created. Natural rights states that humans are governed by moral laws. Locke basically states that

all men are equal, independent and free. He argues that a government cannot be existent without

the consent of the residents (Loria & Niver, 2015). Locke is of the opinion that it does not matter

where an individual is born and residents form a government and not the contrary.

Locke believes that all people were created by God and they should maintain that status

of independence and impartiality as mature beings that reason logically. This limits the

authorities and parents on where their authority can reach. Locke affirms that although the

parents hold powers over the young ones, when they grow older, they have the authority to

control themselves.

The government also had limited rule over children since it was given the obligation by

the residents. Therefore it is required to stick to the obligations provided by natural rights. The

states is required to protect the rights of the children which comprise of provision of education,

protecting life and property (Kettner, 2014). His emphasis is that children could not be a subject

of the government until they attain an age which they can make decisions independently. Locked

referred this to as tacit consent. According to him, being born in a particular country does not

qualify a person to a citizen until they make a decision to a citizen of that particular country.
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Consensualism supports people in committing to developing and affirming the values of a

country by voluntarily associating with others.  

Option 2

Jean Jacques Rousseau and John Locke both bring up their opinions on the appropriation

of private property and its importance in relation to impartiality in their respective writing, the

social contract and John Locke on citizenship. They both have varied sentiments in regard to

how they view individual’s right to possess private property. According to Locke it is basic right

of an individual and Rousseau considers it to be second to state’s rights. Irrespective of their

variances, they both share similar views in relation to individual legitimate claim of ownership of

property; that people must labor and have necessity.

Rousseau starts discussion of property by arguing that goods are possessed by an

individual ready to be provided to the state. He believes that every person in a state must

surrender own property to benefit all citizens since every person is bound by a social contract

(Halsall, 1997). However, to have the right to surrender property, a person must first have the

ownership right of the property. At this point, Rousseau’s opinions start to be similar to that of

the Locke. On the other hand, locke’s key explanation of private property is related to the idea of

acquiring a property. He explains how such an individual can be trusted to own property. By

looking back to the possessed property’s presence in the natural state, Locke explains that to

appropriate such property, an individual must put effort and labor. He originally starts his

argument by showing the individuals own themselves, and to sustain themselves and live they

must possess what nature has provided.

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The debate about property tend to be simple digression, Rousseau on his work on the

social contract, highlights his believe that the state can also claim individual owned property.

Locke is fundamentally in agree with this idea. He argues that political class would not exist if it

had no ability to protect property and he views this right as being obligated to the state by the

citizens.
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References

Halsall, P. (1997). Modern History Sourcebook: Jean Jacques Rousseau: The Social Contract,

1763. Sourcebooks.fordham.edu. Retrieved 15 December 2020, from

https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/rousseau-soccon.asp.

Kettner, J. H. (2014). The development of American citizenship, 1608-1870. UNC Press Books.

Loria, L., & Niver, H. M. (2015). What Is Citizenship?. Chicago: Britannica Educational

Publishing.