Blackwell Reference Online

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P olitical philosophy, ethics A term associated with J. J. Rousseau 's conception of human beings before the appearance of civilization and government. In contrast to Hobbes 's view that men in the state of nature are savage, Rousseau claims that if they are savages, they are noble savages. He held that human beings in the state of nature are free, peaceful, innocent, independent, and happy. They are faithful to human nature and are free from the disease of our civilization. It is the establishment of society that deforms human nature and makes humans subject to the conditions of domestic slavery. But it is argued that Rousseau held this view only in the early stage of his thought and that in general he did not think that men in the natural state are capable of virtue and moral relationships. “Except possibly in the Discourse on the Arts and Sciences, written before his theories had been properly thought out, Rousseau was no believer in the ‘noble savage’, though that expression is often wrongly associated with his name.” J. Hall, Rousseau ... log in or subscribe to read full text