esponsibility for his actions, beliefs, feelings and attitudes whether they are right or wrong. “No matter what we choose we cannot escape responsibility for our choice and guilt for the consequences” (Sartre notes) For Sartre, “existence precedes essence (243). Man exists, man lives, and man makes choices. It’s through these choices and living that man defines who and what he is. In the end, “the existential vision of the human condition is tragic, but it is not pessimistic” (notes).John Locke’s philosophy is that human reason and emotion are the right tools to solve problems confronting mankind. Locke’s theory of human nature is a simple one; man likes happiness and dislikes unhappiness. Locke denies that man is born neither good nor bad. This theory contradicts the idealist theory that man is born good but is diverged from this goodness by negative influences in society. Locke believes that man is naturally reasonable and will set out to do what is best for him even if it invokes temporary pain or pleasure. He argues that man will naturally impose upon himself laws for his own good and for the good of society.Thomas Hobbes is atomistic. He believes that man is born equal. By this he means, the bodies and mind of all men contain equal ability. Because all men posses equal ability they all hope to attain their highest hopes and dreams. Conflict is introduced when both men want something that neither can posses. This in-turn causes the men to turn on each other and seek to destroy or subdue the other in order to obtain the wanted item. According to Hobbes there are three principle causes of conflict in the nature of man: competition, diffidence (distrust) and glory. In human nature, competition is for gain, diffidence is for safety, and glory is for reputation. It is the competitive human nature that renders one to invade and destroy another in order to reach the highest goal. Man is a ver...
