Political Science

English secular theorists such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke base their philosophy on the natural law, the state of human beings before social organizations or government institutions are established. Their concept of freedom is based on natural law or the understanding of a rational human being on freedom. On the other hand, Continental theorists such as Immanuel Kant and Jean-Jacques Rousseau believe that freedom is a rational self-discipline enabling humans to restrain their emotions and feelings and to take over their passions. Kant and Rousseau believe that freedom centers ones political and ethical life.

Locke perceives natural law as a condition of equal opportunity and freedom. He believes that to preserve this natural law, a government institution is needed. Preservation of natural law results to preservation of freedom. Though, Hobbes believes that men in their natural state are evil thus needing government to control natural law. Both of them believe that men are born equal and free other according to the natural law. On the other hand, Kant and Rousseau both believe that freedom is obedience to a law by which humans established themselves. Continental theorists believe that freedom is adherence to the morality of the categorical imperative.

In a sense, secular theorists believe that men are born equal and free. In contrast to Continental theorists, they believe that men do not have to adhere to laws in order to be free though secular theorists argue that social organizations are needed to preserve or control the natural law. The concept of freedom of English secular theorists propose that men, in their natural state, are in fact equal and free but is in need of a particular entity that will help them conserve and control the natural law. On the other hand, Continental theorists concept of freedom is ones moral adherence to established rules and regulations.