Cicero And Hobbes Analysis

Throughout history, many different countries have had many different governments. Cicero describes several basic forms of political governments such as kingdoms, aristocracy, and democracies. However, Cicero believed that was another kind of government that could could mix all of these ideas together to make a better government, this was called a commonwealth. Thomas Hobbes also talked about a commonwealth, but his ideas were different from Cicero’s. Some have even stated that the United States is not a democratic commonwealth, which seems to be true. Since there are several big differences between Cierco’s and Hobbes’s theories there must be a discussion about the definition of what a commonwealth is, why a democratic commonwealth is necessary, …show more content…
According to Cicero,“for the human race is not a race of isolated individuals, wandering and solitary; but it is so constituted that even in the affluence of all things [and without any need of reciprocal assistance, it spontaneously seeks society](Cicero).” So for the people to be successful they must come together. According to Thomas Hobbes, he has a little bit of a different idea. Similar to Cicero, he believed that one person should govern the people; however, he believed that people should give all their power to that one person. That one person would be the voice of the people. Hobbes states, “ This is more than consent, or concord; it is a real unity of them all in one and the same person, made by covenant of every man with every man, in such manner as if every man should say to every man: I authorise and give up my right of governing myself to this man, or to this assembly of men, on this condition; that thou give up, thy right to him, and authorise all his actions in like …show more content…
According to Cicero, the people of the commonwealth vote and bring forward a representative to best represent their interests. Cicero states, “it must be deposited in the hands of one supreme person, or intrusted to the administration of certain delegated rulers, or undertaken by the whole multitude(Cicero).” That person is picked by the people to help protect their rights. According to Hobbes, “to appoint one man, or assembly of men, to bear their person; and every one to own and acknowledge himself to be author of whatsoever he that so beareth their person shall act, or cause to be acted, in those things which concern the common peace and safety; and therein to submit their wills, everyone to his will, and their judgements to his judgement(Hobbes).” This person is known as the sovereignty. This is different than Cicero because this type of government is a sort of monarchy more than democratic. Once the man is in charge, he has all the power, the people most then follow his