Both John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were two extraordinary individuals; both lived through the be-heading of the king, the English Civil war, and the aftermath of the 30 years war. Trying to see the world through their eyes would be somewhat impossible, but their works give us glimpses to beginning to see their perspective. Leviathan (Thomas Hobbes) and Two Treatises of Government (John Locke) is works that give models of a competent government. Locke and Hobbes brought forth the concept of the state of nature and the social contract. Both differ on what the state of nature is but both agree that people had to come together and agree to give up some of their natural rights to live in a society.
So what is the state of nature? In the simplest …show more content…
How would people get along without society, would they just mind their business and go about their day or would it be a free for all. Hobbes and Locke give their perspective on the state of nature. Thomas Hobbes state of nature is a dark and lonely. He states that everyone is equal and everything belongs to every man. The concept of right and wrong, justice and injustice are nowhere to be found in the state of nature. The state of nature is a state of constant war with no security. When it is every man for himself, the Strongest or wittiest will survive. Making “the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short (Hobbes, Chapter 13). Hobbes goes on to say to that” in the nature of man we find three principall causes quarrel. First Competition; Secondly; Diffidence; Thirdly Glory.”(Hobbes, Chapter13). In such a state there cannot be any institutions, art, music, and peace. The notion of the social contract and why man makes a deal is to save himself from the state of nature. He also states that in the state of nature, there is no property only in a commonwealth. Also in …show more content…
Locke differs from what the state of nature is; his state of nature is relatively peaceful and a rational one. He believes that men are guided by reason and “…dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man (Locke, chapter 2). In the state of nature the concept of justice and injustice does exist. Every man has the right to defend himself and to punish, if his rights or life is threatened. God gave Adam certain natural right (Life, liberty, and property) which then men inherited (Locke). The duty of man is not only to persevere himself, but the rest of mankind. In the case of property the labor that a person puts into it makes it his and is limited by what he can use (Locke). Locke goes on to say that protecting our natural right in the state of nature is difficult. The point of entering into a social contract and appoint a Constitutional Government is to protect mans natural right so men can enjoy their natural right. He also believes that government should be limited by law and Citizen have the right to revolt if the government is not able to protect their natural rights. This is possible when man gives up some of their rights to act as one for the good of
So what is the state of nature? In the simplest …show more content…
How would people get along without society, would they just mind their business and go about their day or would it be a free for all. Hobbes and Locke give their perspective on the state of nature. Thomas Hobbes state of nature is a dark and lonely. He states that everyone is equal and everything belongs to every man. The concept of right and wrong, justice and injustice are nowhere to be found in the state of nature. The state of nature is a state of constant war with no security. When it is every man for himself, the Strongest or wittiest will survive. Making “the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short (Hobbes, Chapter 13). Hobbes goes on to say to that” in the nature of man we find three principall causes quarrel. First Competition; Secondly; Diffidence; Thirdly Glory.”(Hobbes, Chapter13). In such a state there cannot be any institutions, art, music, and peace. The notion of the social contract and why man makes a deal is to save himself from the state of nature. He also states that in the state of nature, there is no property only in a commonwealth. Also in …show more content…
Locke differs from what the state of nature is; his state of nature is relatively peaceful and a rational one. He believes that men are guided by reason and “…dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man (Locke, chapter 2). In the state of nature the concept of justice and injustice does exist. Every man has the right to defend himself and to punish, if his rights or life is threatened. God gave Adam certain natural right (Life, liberty, and property) which then men inherited (Locke). The duty of man is not only to persevere himself, but the rest of mankind. In the case of property the labor that a person puts into it makes it his and is limited by what he can use (Locke). Locke goes on to say that protecting our natural right in the state of nature is difficult. The point of entering into a social contract and appoint a Constitutional Government is to protect mans natural right so men can enjoy their natural right. He also believes that government should be limited by law and Citizen have the right to revolt if the government is not able to protect their natural rights. This is possible when man gives up some of their rights to act as one for the good of