John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were two of the Enlightment era most prominent philosophers and thinkers, whose theories, ideals and views on several topics marked the development of the centuires afterwards. John Locke was an English philosopher and thinker who was born in 1632 and died in 1704. Among the many things he did, Locke is considered the father of liberalism and his works and ideas were crucial to the birth and success of the American Revolution. On the other hand, Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher and thinker who was born in Geneva in 1712 and died in 1778. Rousseau is known for his famous <em>Social Contract</em>, which inspired the French Revolution and many other political movements around the world. He also established the Theory of Human Nature and the State of Human Nature, which have inspired many other philosophers that came afterwards. John Locke influenced Jean-Jacques Rousseau´s <em>Social Contract</em> and other of his works. In order, then, of published works and ideas, we have as follows:
John Locke: Published the Second Treatise on Government, and believed that everyone has natural rights of life, liberty and property, which was the vertebral column of the theories of Locke, portrayed in the Treatises.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Published Social Contract and believed that people, in their natural state, given their freedom, will listen to reason because they are free. This was an essential part of the Social Contract and State of Human Nature theories.
