Thomas Hobbes vs. John Locke

Thomas Hobbes

• All humans are naturally selfish and wicked

Thomas Hobbes

• STATE OF NATURE- life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, short

• Without government, man will fight against man to the death

Thomas Hobbes

• To escape the state of nature- submit to a social contract

– People give up their rights to a strong ruler

Thomas Hobbes• The best government is an

absolute monarchy

John Locke• “Two Treatises on Government”• People are good and want to

learn and improve

John Locke• All people are born free and

equal– Criticized absolute monarchy

John Locke• All people are born free and

equal– Criticized absolute monarchy

John Locke• 3 Natural Rights– Life, Liberty and Property

– Purpose of government is to protect natural rights

– If government does not do this people SHOULD overthrow government

John Locke• In a modern democracy, power

comes from the PEOPLE