Hobbes vs locke. Compare And Contrast Locke And Hobbes 2022-11-16
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Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two influential political philosophers who lived during the Enlightenment period in the seventeenth century. They both wrote about the idea of social contract, or the idea that government is created to protect the natural rights of individuals. However, they had different ideas about the nature of government and the rights of individuals.
Hobbes believed in the idea of an absolute monarchy, where the monarch had complete control over the people and the state. He believed that the social contract between the people and the state was based on the idea of self-preservation, and that the state was necessary to protect people from the dangers of living in a state of nature, where there was no government and no laws. Hobbes argued that the only way to achieve peace and security in society was to have a strong central government that could maintain order and control.
Locke, on the other hand, believed in the idea of a limited government, where the power of the state was limited by the natural rights of individuals. He argued that the purpose of government was to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, and that the government was only legitimate if it had the consent of the governed. Locke believed that the social contract was based on the idea of consent, and that the government was only legitimate if it had the consent of the people.
There are several key differences between Hobbes and Locke's ideas about the nature of government and the rights of individuals. Hobbes believed in the idea of an absolute monarchy, where the monarch had complete control over the people and the state, while Locke believed in the idea of a limited government, where the power of the state was limited by the natural rights of individuals. Hobbes argued that the social contract was based on the idea of self-preservation, while Locke argued that it was based on the idea of consent. Finally, Hobbes believed that the only way to achieve peace and security in society was to have a strong central government, while Locke believed that the government was only legitimate if it had the consent of the people.
Compare And Contrast Locke And Hobbes
Hobbes believed in the social contract which is when people could have a moral understanding about right and wrong to avoid the chaotic violent human nature. After receiving his doctorate from Oxford, he closely engaged with the English court. Support for the Parliamentary Side Unlike Hobbes, Locke was not born into an Anglican family, but a Puritan one. Іn аddіtіоn tо hіs unсоnvеntіоnаl соnсlusіоns аbоut nаturаl lаw, Ноbbеs wаs fаіrlу іnfаmоus fоr рrоduсіng numеrоus sіmіlаrlу unсоnvеntіоnаl rеsults іn рhуsісs аnd mаthеmаtісs. The silencing of opposing voices may seem like a victory for those who demand acceptance and recognition but, in reality, they are not gaining the true believers in their cause that they will need in order to create a truly accepting society.
A Comparison of Two Social Contract Theorists: Locke and Hobbes
He watched the political developments in his home country from afar, and soon after his return in 1651, he boldly published his most famous - and most political - work, Leviathan. I enjoyed this overview about toleration. He continued on with his master's, and in 1660, he began lecturing at Oxford on the classics. Here at The History Ace I strive to publish the best history articles on the internet. Locke argued that, even if the state could force outward conformity with the true religion, it could never make an individual truly believe in it.
Hobbes and Locke: 3 Similarities and Differences on Government
Also, the covenant meets difficulties when applied to those born into existing governments, to which Hobbes objects that those who did not explicitly consent to the covenant are at least responsible for it implicitly, because it is in their self-interest to do so. This belief stemmed from the central tenet of Hobbes' natural philosophy that human beings are, at their core, selfish creatures. Indeed, according to Locke, this contract could be broken by the collective will of the people, and the government and monarch overthrown, if the king began to rule arbitrarily and unfairly. On one side we have Thomas Hobbes who lived in the time of the English Civil War 1642-1651 who provides a negative framework for his philosophical opinions in his masterpiece Leviathan and who advocates for philosophical absolutism. Government should interfere in citizens' lives only when absolutely necessary for the pursuit of impartial justice. In ending, Hobbes held he view that the sovereign was steadfast and could be trusted to use his vast powers for the good of society. Lосkе аnd Ноbbеs wеrе bоth sосіаl соntrасt thеоrіsts, аnd bоth nаturаl lаw thеоrіsts Nаturаl lаw іn thе sеnsе оf Sаіnt Тhоmаs Аquіnаs, nоt Nаturаl lаw іn thе sеnsе оf Nеwtоn , but thеrе thе rеsеmblаnсе еnds.
They may rebel, as was the case in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which Locke strongly supported. Both Thomas Hobbes and Machiavelli in their writing were tackling morality and self-interest from different views. Early in the 17th century, Hobbes went to study at Oxford, graduating in 1608. He argued that we should have equal rights and that no one should have power over someone else. Hobbes wanted to enforce a relatively rigid and authoritarian contractual agreement between citizens and the state—with just one escape clause.
For example, we give up the liberty to steal from our neighbor in order to receive the benefit of knowing our neighbor cannot steal from us either - at least, not without punishment. In this essay I will compare the opinions given by each philosopher regarding their understanding of the state and the law. This can soon lead to a state of war in which we are constantly disposed to harm others to achieve our goals. In the end, their thoughts of the state of humans in a natural realm are what motivated their various thoughts about government. This can create a rebound effect, which threatens the value of toleration itself. He was one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers and proved to be a great English philosopher and physician.
Hobbes and Locke both believed in a state of nature. This not only creates a lively, open society but also offers us the best chance of arriving at truth, since it allows our opinions to be continually tried and tested. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were each nice thinkers of their time and noted for his or her influences on political thinking. Contrastingly, Locke believed that humans would fair well in a state of nature, but could utilize government as a source of order and benefit in life. This means that in order to live in a good society people must follow established rules and not act on their own natural state. Hobbes Biography Thomas Hobbes was the older of the two men, being born in 1588 in Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, England.
For instance, both writers contend that selfishness is part of human nature that defines aspects of political theory that govern citizens. He argued this most forcefully in his landmark work, Leviathan. Hobbes lived during the English civil and protestant reformation war while Locke lived during the enlightenment. Interestingly, Machiavelli personality were mainly active; he worked, principally, as a common worker of the Florentine Republic. On the other hand, Locke was a known doctor from Oxford University.
For Hobbes he believed education that did not reaffirm the absolute power of the monarch inherently destabilized the nation. As such one of the primary differences between Hobbes and Locke was their belief on what the ideal government would look like. Competition was needed in order for man to gain power, distrust was necessary for him to feel secure, and glory ensured that he had a positive reputation. Locke also believed in social contract theory, yet, whereas Hobbes believed the monarch gained unlimited power once that initial contract was implicitly recognized, Locke claimed the social contract between a monarch and his subjects was supposed to be continuously scrutinized. They had ideas that were similar and then they had their own views on things. Difference Between Locke and Hobbes. For example, unlike Hobbes, his political theory is solidly anchored on human nature as the foundation of forming a government and outlining its purpose.