Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau had different ideas about human nature, and these ideas shaped how they thought about politics. Here’s a simpler look at each of their views:

• Hobbes: He believed people are naturally selfish and competitive. Hobbes thought that without rules, life would be “lonely, poor, messy, harsh, and short.” To avoid this chaos, he said that people need to give up some of their freedoms to a strong government.

• Locke: On the other hand, Locke believed people are reasonable and can work together. He thought that in a natural state, people could mostly get along and have natural rights to life, freedom, and property. He believed that the government should protect these rights and must be agreed upon by the people.

• Rousseau: Rousseau had a different idea. He thought people are born good but can be ruined by society. He believed that a social contract should show what the community wants and promote equality and freedom, helping bring back the natural goodness in everyone.

These different views on what it means to be human really shaped their thoughts about how society and government should work.