Human nature and its relevance in determining behavior, predictions and conclusions has caused controversy among philosophers over the centuries. Political philosophy, with its emphasis on the legitimacy of government, justice, laws, and rights, guided the works of the 17th- and 18th-century philosophical writings of Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Through Thomas Hobbes' world famous publication, Leviathan and Rousseau's speeches on basic political principles and concepts, each man has validated his own thoughts on human nature and what is necessary for a successful society within their respective borders governments. The stark differences between Hobbes and Rousseau's views on the natural state of man frame the topic of the different parenting styles that each man would inevitably apply in raising a child. Raising a child is a timeless analogy that can be used to contrast the education and discipline that would apply in the infinite situations that life offers. Hobbes and Rousseau's opposing ideologies of human nature would be reflected in their parenting styles. Both agree that nature is directly relevant to man and that perhaps already in childhood man approaches his natural state. Nature (the Art with which God created and governs the World) is through the Art of man. (Hobbes 81) Their differences become clear when talking about man's relationship with society. Hobbes argues that man is born a natural savage, unruly and undisciplined. Society saves the human soul by forcing it into a civilized society that requires proper behavior to survive. This view is related to parenting on the basis that children at birth are uncivilized beings with no sense of right or wrong. These characteristics are only instilled in... middle of paper......water. According to Hobbes, the fundamental law of nature, or general rule of reason, “that every man should strive to attain peace as far as he has any hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, let him seek it.” (190) For Hobbes, we must seek peace for civilization because it is civilization that saves us from ourselves. For Rousseau, to achieve peace we must regain the goodness of our primitive state that was stripped from us once we entered civilization. Works Cited: Hobbes, Thomas and Crawford B. Macpherson. Leviathan. Harmondsworth, Middlesex [ua: Penguin, 1985. Print. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, Donald A. Cress. Basic political writings: "Discourse on the Sciences and Arts", "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality", "Discourse on Political Economy", "On the Social Contract", "The State of War". Indianapolis: Hackett, 1987. Print.