John Locke vs Robinson Crusoe
... The cause for this was a man named John Locke, a philosopher and writer with publications such as An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, The Second Treatise of Civil Government, and A Letter Concerning Toleration. ... The writings of Locke inspired Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, a story about a man shipwrecked on an island and faced with danger and the challenges of survival. ... It was evident that many of the outcomes were related to Locke’s writings and ideas, which had overall been very influential during his time. When Crusoe became shipwrecked he felt that it was all for a reason. ... Ignoring his parents’ wishes, Crusoe set out to sea and ironically ended up stranded on the island. ... John Locke said, “To make the sense of esteem or disgrace sink the deeper, and be of the more weight, other agreeable or disagreeable things should constantly accompany these different states; not as particular action, but as necessarily belonging to, and constantly attending one, who by his carriage has brought himself into a state of disgrace or condemnation. ... This is the moral dynamic of Crusoe on the island in two ways: If Crusoe had obeyed his parents he wouldn’t be put in this situation. ... The fruit of Crusoe’s labor led to survival and comfort whereas laziness and greed would only lead to his demise or according to Locke “a state of disgrace or condemnation.” When Crusoe begins to settle on the island his constant egomania and fear of humans and cannibals becomes very evident. ... The laws of nature … constitute for Locke the more important standards of conduct [learned through education]. ... ” This is comparable with the argument of whether or not the fear that Crusoe has makes him less moral as a person. ... When speaking of Crusoe, one must realize the amount of time that he spent alone on the island. ... John Locke stated, “Anyone can be ashamed when his mother is standing by with a scornful eye, but true self governance is about much more than that.