Left in the state of nature, mankind could not be guaranteed the continued success of any long-term projects, and therefore would not desire to undertake them. Also, without the rule of law, many men would not feel any need for government. The statement of Hobbes' quoted above indicates that he believes the state of nature is a state of rule by force, where the strong are able to take what they want from the weak with utter impunity.
Such a horrific view of humanity could cause many intellectual hackles to rise -- indeed, Hobbes' description of the state of nature has been dismissed as unduly pessimistic by many critics -- but Hobbes was not hasty in drawing such conclusions.
Instead, he based his evaluation of individual human beings on careful considerations. He assumed that in he state of nature, without a civil or social hierarchy, all men would be equal in their ability to kill, as well as being equal in their desires to protect their lives, the lives of their families, and the possessions that would ensure them security in the future.
This would lead to an immense degree of interpersonal conflicts, which would only be exacerbated by the scarcity of any desired commodity.
The state of nature, Hobbes concludes, is nothing more than a state of constant war, in which Hobbes concludes mankind has only the natural right of protecting themselves against anyone that threatens their lives or possessions.
This is the background that Hobbes' concept of the social contract grew out of -- any form of government, Hobbes believed, was preferable to this state of nature. And the strongest form of government -- the one that would best be able to provide the security mankind needs to not have to resort to killing in the name of survival and protection -- was, Hobbes believed, one with a central authority wielding supreme and unquestioned power.
It is not surprising that John Locke's view of humanity is somewhat rosier than Hobbes'. Locke also uses the idea of the state of nature to elucidate what he believes to be the proper formation and role of government, and his description of this state of nature bears many resemblances to Hobbes'. It is distinctly lacking in the brutality that Hobbes presupposes to be inherent to all of mankind equally.
Instead, Locke believes that it is a small minority of mankind that carries such brutal and greedy thoughts, and that it is rather the "inconveniences" of living in a state of nature that are to be avoided through government.
On the whole, this vision of the state of nature is far more benevolent than Hobbes', and therefore less demanding of a totalitarian government to fix it.
Locke's reason for establishing a government, however, is much the same as Hobbes' -- the "inconveniences" caused by the lack of a civil structure, in addition to the need for an impartial body to determine fault and reparations when disputes arise, all make a government preferable to the state of nature.
Because the state of nature according to Locke is much easier to live in than Hobbes' vision of it, government is not nearly as necessary to improve upon this state. The social contract that Locke believes allows governments to exist, therefore, is much more easily broken. Whenever the government ceases to serve the purpose it was contracted for -- i.e. To improve the state of man from the state of nature it existed in beforehand -- the contract is nullified, and the people have an obligation to revolt and establish a new government that will better live up to the contract.
Locke firmly believed that any over-strong...
Question 2: The goals of the philosophies were meant to exercise a set of ideals. Which common tenets of enlightened thinking do writers Mary Wollstonecraft and Denis Diderot advance in "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" and the selection from "Encyclopedie." Contemporary connections: Discuss how you see the tenets you identified in these works as having informed/influenced our contemporary experience. Although Mary Wollstonecraft speaks about the rights of women specifically,
The reason it is human nature to experience conflict is because people are born to be free thinkers; not mindless machines that simply perform as they are instructed. Does John Locke's political treatise "Of Civil Government" condemn or condone slavery? Give specific examples from his text that reveal his thoughts on slavery, and compare them with the state of slavery in eighteenth-century Europe Locke condemned slavery because he valued human freedom.
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke each formulated notions regarding human liberty in nearly the same social, political, and provincial circumstances. Although their most famous works were separated approximately forty years from one another, they were both wealthy members of seventeenth century English society during a period of particular social and religious turmoil. Similarly, both Hobbes and Locke sought to use reasoning to determine the most appropriate form of political and
Political Philosophy I pick a political leader (dead alive). Once pick leader, apply a philosopher's ideas a philosophy reveal leaders strengths / weaknesses. You a philosopher's ideas directly influenced a leader ( Machiavelli's influence Mussolini Hitler). Leadership in the history of political thought has always been identified in the broader lines of certain political paradigms and lines of judgment and characterized by philosophical rules and guidelines. Leaders such as Adolf Hitler,
Hobbes vs. Locke Thomas Hobbes and John Locke each provide intriguing opinions concerning the state of nature, but their thinking differs when considering the form of governing that each promotes as being the most effective. The individuals in Locke's example of a government appear to have greater security than those in Hobbes', as the latter considers that there would be nothing wrong with people renouncing some of their rights in order
So, who was right? Well, it seems that history has taught us again and again that in certain conditions, humans do express their evil and competitive natures (e.g. fascism, genocide, etc.); but that in other situations, the species can be incredibly giving and benevolent (think of Mother Theresa, people helping people). The complexity is that humans are not all one type or another, but a combination. Most sociologists believe
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