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  • Essay / Similar and different views of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

    Thomas Hobbes was an English Enlightenment philosopher who was considered one of the founders of modern political philosophy. He is best known for his book Leviathan which he wrote in 1651. John Locke was another Enlightenment thinker who was considered the "father of liberalism". Each philosopher had a unique view of the nature of man, man's relationship to society, and man's relationship to government. Hobbes and Locke had many differences, but they also had similarities. Regardless, they both have had a great impact on today's society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Hobbes and Locke were both great thinkers of their times. Both made great contributions to political science and both had similar views on the place of power in a society. Both Hobbes and Locke favored a popular contract, or constitution, in which the people would have the power to control their own government. They were not specifically talking about a democratic type of government, but something as basic as a tribe or as complex as the fictional government described by Plato in The Republic. Both also refer to a “state of nature” in which man exists without government. Hobbes and Locke speak of the dangers of a state of nature. However, Thomas Hobbes is very pessimistic on the subject while John Locke speaks of the potential benefits. Like his rival John Locke, Hobbes theorized that, in a state of nature, men and women were free to pursue and defend their own interests, resulting in a state of war in which "the life of the 'man' was 'lonely, poor, wicked'. , brutal and short. » Hobbes began work on what would become his "magnum opus" and one of the most influential books ever written: Leviathan. Thomas Hobbes defends the need for a natural evolution of the social contract. He also proposed a government ruled by an absolute monarchy, arguing that chaos and other situations identified with a "state of nature" could only be avoided by a strong central government. A government with the power of the biblical Leviathan (a sea creature), which would protect people from their own selfishness. He also warned against "war of all against all" or Bellum omnium contra omnes, a motto that represented Hobbes's vision of humanity without government. Hobbes methodically sets out his thoughts on the founding of states and legitimate government. He says that the state is created by humans, which is why he describes human nature first. Hobbes asserts that in every human being can be found a representation of general humanity and that all acts are ultimately selfish; in the state of nature, humans would behave completely selfishly. He concludes that the natural condition of humanity is a state of continued war, fear, and amorality. Only government can hold a society together. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The founding fathers of America were greatly influenced by the works of Thomas Hobbes. Locke and the Founding Fathers, however, rejected Hobbes's argument that the government had absolute power over its subjects. Instead, the Founding Fathers adopted Locke's ideas about protecting unalienable rights and limited government in the Declaration..