society is their view regarding the purpose of the state. Mill and Locke held completely opposite views regarding who should benefit from the existence of the state the individual or the community. According to Locke men are driven to congregate and form societies for "necessity, connivance and inclination..." (Ebenstein 382) Locke believes that the purpose or end of the state is to provide the necessities and convinces which drove men to form communities. The state for all intents and purposes is designed to serve the individual and provide a free and unrestricted environment in which man who is naturally free may prosper and own property. The constant threat of interference by other men in a man's freedom and enjoyment of his property has driven men to seek the safety of a community which exists "for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties, and estates which I call by the general name "property"." (Ebenstein 382) Mill contends the collective interests of the community render greater reward than the promotion of individual interests. Rousseau also shared this view. To Rousseau, liberty meant voice and participation. The use of the general will of the people to dictate the affairs of the state would ensure that individual liberties would be protected. The active participation by the citizens of the society, in Rousseau’s view, would lead to a full and moral life. In order to preserve voice, participation, and the morality of their society, Rousseau’s citizens would have no problem giving up some of the liberties that John Locke views as essential.All three philosophers have left an indelible mark on the concept of freedom in political societies. John Locke favors greater freedom for man in political society than Mill does. Rousseau favors more political freedom that personal freedom. Locke’s views simply stem from his faith in man and his potential to succeed independently, which collectively promotes the pro...
