Locke Vs. Hobbes
Political Actions
Political Actions
- Strongly believed in an totalarian government.
- Invented the Social Contract.
- Totalarian Government- authority has absolute control over all aspects of life.
- Social Contract - an agreement among the people and government.
- Founder of Democracy and was infleunced by Hobbes' creation of Social Contract.
- Democracy- a form of governemnt in which all eligible citizens participate equally.
Impact
- Fortunately, Hobbes' theories sculpted modern philosophy and continued to influence people till this day about absolute power.
- His works supported the federalists side of the American Constitution.
Impact
Authority
- Thomas Hobbes falls under the Authority section of the spectrum.
- Authority-the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
- Without strong central government, society would be chaotic.
- There would be a danger for the people if they were allowed to do what they want.
- Locke's theories were beneficial toward Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
- Inspired the liberal aspect of the American Revolution.
- Theory was the foundation of the American Constition.
Liberty
- John Locke lies on the liberty portion of the spectrum.
- Liberty- the quality individuals obtain to control their own lives.
- All people have the right to partake in the role of the government.
- There are many different people in this world that they would all equal each other out.
Thomas Hobbes
- An English Philosopher whom was born on April 5, 1588 during England's Civil War.
- Founding father of modern political philosophy.
- His most well known piece of literature was the Leviathan.
John Locke
Thomas Jefferson
- An English philosopher who was born on August 29th, 1632.
- Time period was the Enlightened Age.
- All men should be civil rather than stealing.
- Most famous work was the Two Treatises on Government.
Hobbesian State of Nature
- Without strong central government, society would be chaotic.
- Absolute power- the authority holds all power.
- People should obey the Authority.
Historical
Circumstances
- People are selfish and needy.
- Men would rather steal in order to gain what they want.
- People are naturally wicked and are incapable to govern.
Lockean State of Nature
- An American politician that was very influenced by John Locke's beliefs.
- Adopted "Life, Liberty, and Persuit of Happiness" from Locke's theoryof "Life, Liberty, and property."
- John Locke helped structure the Declaration of Independence as a thread to a direct relationship between the people and the government.
- The government must have the consent of the people.
- The human nature is governed by thought and reason.
- Strong belief that all goods and property should be protected by the government.
- Man should create an agreement to every disagreement.
Historical Circumstances
- To have a well organized society, there should be sense of equality among the people and government.
- Morally, the government should go as to what the people have to say.
- Protect life, liberty, and property.
Jeremy Bentham
Citations
- An English philosopher who was impacted by Thomas Hobbes' works.
- Utilitarianism- virtue that bases of the utility that will promote the most happiness for society.
- Believed that in order for utilitarianism, men emphasizes the role of rationality.
- Thought that Hobbes' theories would accomplish self-perservation.
John Locke:
- http://www.iep.utm.edu/locke-po/
- http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/john-locke-natural-rights-to-life-liberty-and-property#axzz2thdXYdeR
Thomas Hobbes:
- http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hobbes-moral/
- http://jim.com/hobbes.htm
- http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/nature/hobbes-bio.html