John Locke's Second Treatise And Thomas Hobbes Leviathan

In John Locke’s Second Treatise and Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan, both authors introduce concepts of perfect societies built upon the initial state of nature for the purpose of ultimately escaping that state to enter a state of civility and peace. The state of nature is one governed by natural laws that each individual understands through their innate sense of reasoning. Hobbes condemns that state because he contends that in the state of nature, there is no property, which propagates fear and death because of a lack of common authority to settle matters on disagreements concerning things like ownership and retributions. Unlike Hobbes, Locke reasons that individuals can actually come into possessions in the state of nature and employs his theory …show more content…
In the Leviathan, Hobbes introduces the state of nature as one locked in fear and uncertainty because the resources that the earth provides are mutually attainable. In this state of nature, Hobbes explains that there is only possession but no ownership because one can only possess an item for as long as their neighbor doesn’t desire the item enough to exact force and take it for themselves. To survive, people acquire many of those resources but without a common authority there is no way to establish a sense of property, or permanent possession. On a common earth, Hobbes reasons that the resources of the earth belong to everyone, therefore no one really has a secure personal right to anything. To escape from that world of uncertainties, Hobbes claims that the contract is the only path towards peace. The contract is an agreement that both parties sacrifice some natural rights towards a common resolution; however, that cannot be sustained without an enforcing body. For example, I cannot kill someone for their bread and they cannot kill me for my bread so that we both enjoy the benefits of security, food, and favor from the common