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