Nature Of Man In Thomas Hobbes Leviathan

In Thomas Hobbes Leviathan he describes the nature of man as one who lives in “continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man solitary poor, nasty, brutish and short”. He describes this state of nature is a state of war. Hobbes states that the basic goal of mankind is to avoid an untimely death. Thus, the state of man is a state of self-gratification, self-service, and self-preservation. He argues that in a state of nature people cannot know what is theirs and what is someone else’s, therefore, property exists solely by the will of the state, thus in a state of nature men are condemned to endless violent conflict. Hobbes believes that man enters society because the fear of death, the desire of such things that are necessary to promote a living, and the hope to obtain those things compels man to leave the desperate state of nature. Assuming that man exists naturally out of society and independent of all control, he enters the state only through the gateway of the social contract. Hobbes proposed to bring men by means of a social contract, the essential condition of which was the absolute surrender of the power and the judgment …show more content…
However, Locke’s view of the true nature of man is also correct. I believe that men are given freedom of choice and the choice to do right or wrong is a part of that freedom, which is seen in Locke’s belief in the basic rights of individuals to pursue their own self interests in the pursuit of life, liberty and property. I also agree with Locke’s concept that in order for individuals to have individual rights we must also take on the responsibility of respecting the rights of others and that if a government does not respect the individual rights of its citizens, those citizens should reserve the right to overthrow said