John Locke versus Thomas Hobbes Essay - 1297 Words

Change is in the inevitable byproduct of society. As societies evolve they change according to the life style of the people who inhabit them. Without change, society would never progress and thus would be frozen in a single moment in time. Thomas Hobbes and John Lock were two English philosophers who observed tremendous changes in English politics between the years of 1640 and 1690. In closely examining the views of both of these philosophers in subject areas such as the nature of man in society, the relationship between a society and its government, and the affect that both philosophers’ novels had on the government, it can be concluded that both Hobbes and Locke’s philosophies created prominent change in the methods of government. Both†¦show more content†¦His opinion of human nature was low. In Leviathan, Hobbes portrays humans as selfish, unsocial creatures driven by only two need, survival and personal gain. Therefore, human life is characterized by  "constant struggle, strife, and war† with individuals against one another in a battle for self preservation . Hobbes claimed that there was â€Å"a general inclination of all [human]kind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.† Therefore, Hobbes concludes that because of the selfishness of humans, they have no capacity of self government. Locke view humans is a different perspective. Locke developed his own philosophy, which is referred to as tabula rosa. Put simply, this refers to the idea that the human mind at birth is a blank slate without rules for processing data. Data is accumulated in the mind as the rules of processing data are formed. According to Locke, these rules are formed solely on a person’s sensory experience, therefore, Locke will argue that a person is neither good nor evil at birth, it is the summation of their experiences that determine the person that they become. That being said, humans can be educ ated to an inclination of good rather than evil. As a result, â€Å"the state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges everyone: and reason, which is that law, teaches all [human]kind, who will but consult it, that beingShow MoreRelatedThe American Constitution And The Bill Of Rights1463 Words   |  6 Pagesand thoughts of the philosophes, specifically John Locke. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were both English philosophers,influential thinkers of the seventeenth century, both had confidence in a Social Contract and they both distributed books that were generally perused. Thomas Hobbes talked about and built up the social contract hypothesis through his book Leviathan. The social contract hypothesis was later bolstered and translated encourage by John Locke. This hypothesis which was essential to theRead MoreEssay on John Locke vs Thomas Hobbes509 Words   |  3 PagesLocke versus Hobbes Locke and Hobbes were both social contract theorists, and both natural law theorists, but there the resemblance ends. All other natural law theorists assumed that man was by nature a social animal. Hobbes assumed otherwise, thus his conclusions are strikingly different from those of other natural law theorists. What would life and human relations be like in the absence of government? Thomas Hobbes was the first to attempt to illustrate this condition using an intellectualRead MoreBriefly Explain What Is Meant by the â€Å"Scientific Revolution† That Took Place in Seventeenth Century Europe, and How It Marked a Departure from Ancient and Medieval Philosophy.1603 Words   |  7 Pagesbecome noted scientists.    Compare and contrast the positions expressed by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke regarding natural law and government, and discuss the influences that their works had on the development of political thought both during their own time and later? The two main political philosophers during the seventeenth century were Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Hobbes is the well-known author of â€Å"Leviathan,† and Locke is the author of â€Å"An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.† Both men addressRead MoreThe Enlightenment And The American Revolution2027 Words   |  9 PagesThe Enlightenment and the American Revolution Everyone knows the story of how America came to be. 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Some might say that the power itself is what corrupts, while others argue that power simply reveals peoples true colors. However, in reality all sides have some truth to them. Power can be a source of corruption when the amount obtained b ecomes overwhelming, when the person given power doesnt know what do with it or growsRead MorePolitical Authority : A Need For Authority1782 Words   |  8 Pagesare many different political powers but regardless, there is someone, or some group of persons that has formal authority which makes laws, enforces them and punishes those that do not abide. But where does it come from is the question. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Aristotle have theories and ideas that give us a clue. They present ideas concerning different forms of authority; how authority has evolved; and where it even started. 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