It is interesting that some philosophers write books not to express the beliefs that they are strongly convinced of but just to give a reasonable explanation of the happening events and adjust their deliberations to the appropriate place and time. However, what is more fascinating is when two political thinkers living at the same century and at the same country perceive things in different ways. That is understandable as everybody has his/her own life experience, thoughts, and ideas. Anyways, let’s analyze works of Thomas Hobbes “Leviathan” and “The Second Treatise of Government” of John Locke to distinguish main points that made those philosophers come to the different conclusions even if they both began their discussions from the same point. Both political thinkers start from the idea that all people live in a state of nature until they come to the point when they voluntarily create a social contract among themselves giving some power to the central authority for some purposes. For Hobbes that authority is an absolute monarchy, for Locke that is a limited government. Why?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- History and Influence of the Political Thinkers
- State of Nature: Hobbes's Perspective
- State of Nature: Locke's Perspective
- Social Contract: Hobbes's Perspective
- Social Contract: Locke's Perspective
- The Purpose of Government: Hobbes's Perspective
- The Purpose of Government: Locke's Perspective
- Conclusion: Hobbes's Strong Leviathan vs. Locke's Limited Government
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work examines the political theories of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, focusing on their contrasting views on the nature of government. The primary objective is to analyze their respective interpretations of the state of nature, the social contract, and the purpose of government, ultimately highlighting how their distinct perspectives led to vastly different conclusions regarding the ideal form of political authority. Key themes explored in this text include:- The state of nature and its implications for human society
- The social contract as a means of escaping the state of nature
- The role of government in protecting individual rights and promoting the common good
- The tension between individual liberty and social order
- The historical context and influences that shaped the political theories of Hobbes and Locke
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: Introduces the contrasting political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, focusing on their different perspectives on the nature of government. It highlights their shared starting point in the state of nature and their subsequent divergence in their views on the ideal form of political authority, with Hobbes advocating for absolute monarchy and Locke promoting a limited government.
- History and Influence of the Political Thinkers: Examines the historical context and influences that shaped the political theories of Hobbes and Locke. It discusses the Thirty Years War and the English Civil Wars, highlighting their impact on Hobbes's work, and explores the influence of the Scientific Revolution on his thinking. It then contrasts this with the context of the Glorious Revolution, which shaped Locke's political philosophy.
- State of Nature: Hobbes's Perspective: Analyzes Hobbes's conception of the state of nature, characterized as a "war of all against all" where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." It highlights Hobbes's emphasis on human selfishness and the need for a powerful sovereign to maintain order and security.
- State of Nature: Locke's Perspective: Presents Locke's contrasting view of the state of nature, which he perceives as a state of reason and cooperation where individuals possess natural rights, including the right to life, liberty, and property. It acknowledges the possibility of conflict but emphasizes the potential for peaceful coexistence.
- Social Contract: Hobbes's Perspective: Explores Hobbes's theory of the social contract, which he sees as a necessary means to escape the state of nature and establish a stable and peaceful society. It emphasizes the importance of transferring individual rights to a sovereign in exchange for protection and security.
- Social Contract: Locke's Perspective: Presents Locke's understanding of the social contract, which he views as a more limited agreement that aims to protect individual rights and promote the common good. It underscores Locke's belief that individuals retain certain inalienable rights even after entering into the social contract.
- The Purpose of Government: Hobbes's Perspective: Analyzes Hobbes's view of the purpose of government, which he believes is to maintain peace and order by any means necessary. It highlights his justification for absolute monarchy as the most effective form of government to achieve this objective.
- The Purpose of Government: Locke's Perspective: Examines Locke's contrasting perspective on the purpose of government, which he sees as promoting the common good, protecting individual rights, and securing property. It underscores his argument for a limited government that is accountable to the people it governs.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This text explores the core concepts of political theory, focusing on the works of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Key terms include: state of nature, social contract, absolute monarchy, limited government, individual rights, natural law, sovereignty, common good, and the tension between individual liberty and social order. The text highlights the historical context and influences that shaped the political theories of these influential thinkers, including the Thirty Years War, the English Civil Wars, and the Glorious Revolution.
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- Citation du texte
- Irina Wolf (Auteur), 2001, Political theory - Hobbes and Locke, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/130065
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