Two brilliant philosophers of the seventeenth century developed theories on how humankind develops socially from the human state of nature. These theorists John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both analyze these ideas and declare that man subjects themselves to government by creating a social contract amongst themselves. Although they have different ideas of what the social contract is, both Locke and Rousseau agree that in giving up the state of nature, we submit ourselves to a form on social contract and by giving up some of our freedoms we gain security and respect amongst the civilization. Locke believes people in the state of nature are without corruption, equal, and independent and will willingly create a government run by the people for the people. Rousseau, however, believes that people in the state of nature are inherently good and free, but fall to corruption and create a need for control and organization. These two philosophers, even though they both believe in the social contract developing out of the state of nature, differ in how they develop what they believe the social contract is and what the state of nature is, for what and how it came to be, and the role it plays in society and government today.
Both Locke and Rousseau agree that a state of nature existed before people developed the idea of the social contract and that if the social contract for some reason came to an end people would return back to the state of nature. It is when self-preservation of the individual is threatened or at risk that people start to ban together and create groups and ultimately societies and governments. Locke's philosophy is that humans have the natural desire to pursue and secure life, liberty, health, and possessions, and that in agreeing to the social contract those are secured. Only when that is violated or disobeyed there will be punishment. Locke deeply engrains his thoughts on property throughout his works, in that he believes if you created something or worked toward something then you have ownership of it.