Final answer:
Thomas Hobbes saw humans as inherently selfish, requiring strong government control, while Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that people are naturally good and advocated for a government responsive to the population's general will. They both, along with Locke, discussed the idea of a social contract but with divergent views on its implementation and the nature of human beings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The philosophies of Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Emma Goldman offer distinct views on human nature and the role of government, shaped by their perceptions of a social contract. Hobbes viewed human beings as selfish and quick to fight, necessitating a strong authoritarian government to maintain order and security. Rousseau believed humans are inherently good but corrupted by society, advocating for a government that is directly responsive to the general will of the people, aligning with ideas of a direct democracy.
Comparing Hobbes and Rousseau, the former believed in surrendering freedom for security under a ruler, while the latter believed in the participation of citizens in shaping governance. Both Hobbes and Rousseau theorize using a social contract model for government but for different reasons and with different outcomes. Locke's ideas about government protection of individual rights and property through a social contract influenced later thinkers like Adam Smith and political documents such as the United States Declaration of Independence.