The Influence of Locke and Hobbes on Government
analytical Essay
1741 words
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke have authored two works that have had a significant impact on political philosophy. In the “Leviathan” by Hobbes and “Two Treatises of Government” by Locke, the primary focus was to analyze human nature to determine the most suitable type of government for humankind. They will have confounding results. Hobbes concluded that an unlimited sovereign is the only option, and would offer the most for the people, while for Locke such an idea was without merit. He believed that the government should be limited, ruling under the law, with divided powers, and with continued support from its citizens. With this paper I will argue that Locke had a more realistic approach to identifying the human characteristics that organize people into societies, and is effective in persuading us that a limited government is the best government.
Thomas Hobbes believes that the optimal form of authority is one that has absolute power over its people, consisting of just one person who will retain the exclusive ability to oversee and decide on all of society’s issues. This Sovereign will be constituted by a social contract with the people. With that, the Sovereign will hold all of the citizens’ rights, and will be permitted to act in whichever way he or she deems necessary. The philosopher comes to this conclusion with deductive reasoning, utilizing a scientific method with straightforward arguments to prove his point.
The foremost aspects to consider from the Leviathan are Hobbes’s views on human nature, what the state of nature consists of, and what role morality plays. Hobbes assumes, taking the position of a scientist, that humans are “bodies in motion.” In other words, simple mechanical existences motivated solely to gain sati...
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...y will consent to this, and bring in a sovereign that will also operate under the law. Also, that sovereign will have to operate with checks and balances, under a government with divided powers. The difference with Hobbes is that if any powerful invader that takes over the land that you reside with the intent to be the sovereign is not allowed. As mentioned, such an action permits the people to declare war with this presumed authority. That also extends to the situation in which those citizens were unsatisfied with the government that they had initially consented to.
Works Cited
Feinberg, Joel, and R. Shafer-Landau. Reason and Responsibility. 10. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1999. 493-494
Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. 84. Print.
Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government. Cambridge: University Press, Cambridge, 1960. 271. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that thomas hobbes and john locke have authored two works that have had a significant impact on political philosophy.
- Explains that thomas hobbes believes that the optimal form of authority is one that has absolute power over its people, consisting of just one person who retains the exclusive ability to oversee and decide on all of society's issues.
- Analyzes hobbes' views on human nature, what the state of nature consists of, and what role morality plays in the leviathan.
- Explains that moral laws, with the principal being that people "ought to endeavour peace" with any means necessary, will not bind in foro externo in the state of nature.
- Analyzes hobbes' view that it would be rational for people to initiate an agreement that would extinguish crippling difficulties. psychological egoism has an important role in this.
- Explains that a strong ruler must come in, seize power, establish an absolute monarchy, and rule with an iron fist over those people that were recently fighting for their lives.
- Analyzes how an organized society forms in which the consequences of not adhering to the rules and regulations of the covenant will be so severe that no one would attempt to violate this contract and disobey the sovereign.
- Explains that the limitless sovereign is justified based on hobbes' views on human nature.
- Analyzes how locke concludes that hobbes' ideas are erroneous and that the ideal government would be limited, decentralized, and rule under the law and operate with separated powers.
- Compares locke's "two treatises of government" and hobbes' apocalyptic version of nature.
- Argues that locke's state of nature allows humanity to govern itself, even when taking into account issues that come with a self-interested body of people.
- Explains that the state of nature, according to locke, is a place without set government, where people have unlimited rights. the people are bound by the natural law.
- Analyzes how papadogiannis 6harm others "in their life, liberty, health, and property" and expect their own rights to be respected. hobbes would argue that the father or mother would kill their neighbor for food.
- Argues that locke's individualism is crucial when he tries to persuade his reader on the importance of a limited government.
- Analyzes locke's argument that an unlimited sovereign is an illogical notion. since the neighbor is innocent, he or she is permitted to defend their life.
- Explains that for a state of war to be avoided, common authority is imperative. citizens will have to part with some of their unlimited rights to this new government.
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- Opines that locke's ideas have contributed to the united states constitution and declaration of independence. however, many people are still split on what natural state would be like if there were no government.
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- Analyzes how hobbes deals with the qualities which man possess, and how they affect a man’s basic nature. charisma combined with military ability causes men to follow others as leaders.
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- Explains locke's belief that if someone takes more land than he can use, and it spoils, or allows crops to whither without being picked, they are committing crimes against humanity.
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In this essay, the author
- Argues that hobbes' faith was correct and that the inner workings of politics can be discovered and understood scientifically.
- Explains that hobbes' idea of yielding power to form a greater umbrella of protection in "the social contract theory" is key proponent in the argument for science to describe politics.
- Explains that the concept of a sovereign was relevant in hobbes' time and shows to be just as valid in today's society.
- Argues that humans in nature are especially prone to stabilizing towards a sovereign. every human society discovered to date has some sort of religious belief, i.e. all-power, supernatural sovereign
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that the 17th and 18th centuries in europe are often known as the age of reason or enlightenment, which explored themes of social upheaval, personal status, political satire, geographical exploration, and the comparison between the states of men in a civilized society.
- Explains that hobbes wrote many books about history, geometry, physics, theology, ethics, and philosophy, but the book leviathan made him the father of political science and one of the great philosophers of all time.
- Explains that leviathan was written during the english civil war and was influenced by it. hobbes believed that all people are intrinsically motivated to provide themselves with as many resources as possible.
- Explains that hobbes believed that men don't take any pleasure in the other's company when there’s no power capable of keeping all with respect toward each other, leading to a war of all against all for recognition, for the preservation of life, and the realization of what one man wishes.
- Analyzes hobbes' ideal government, where a single figure oversees the country and rules using fear. he believed that fear was the most effective way to control the citizenry and prevent disorder.
- Analyzes how the question of equality and freedom is seen by hobbes differently from the more conventional of this kind, as seen in the revolutions against kings’ absolute power, especially during the french revolution.
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- Explains locke's proponent of a representative democracy, which allowed rational, thinking people to contribute to their governance, but kept any one individual’s wants from crowding out the others.
- Opines that the enlightenment's legacy can be seen today, everywhere. the ideas of locke and hobbes are alive and used, with people still debating them.
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