What Did Thomas Hobbes And John Locke Agree On?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Locke and Hobbes agree on a variety of ideas such as the non-divine origins of the political power , the need for social contract and a government, equal rights and freedoms of all human beings, and the existence of an ultimate state of nature for human beings.

What did Thomas Hobbes and John Locke have in common?

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke both have made contributions to modern political science and they both had similar views on where power lies in a society. They both are in favor of a popular contract or constitution , which is where the people give the power to govern to their government.

What are the similarities and differences between Thomas Hobbes and John Locke?

Both refer to a “state of nature” in which man exists without government, and both speak of risks in this state. However, while both speak of the dangers of a state of nature, Hobbes is more pessimistic , whereas Locke speaks of the potential benefits.

Did Hobbes and Locke agree on state of nature?

Locke views the state of nature more positively and presupposes it to be governed by natural law. ... Hobbes emphasises the free and equal condition of man in the state of nature, as he states that ‘nature hath made men so equal in the faculties of mind and body...the difference between man and man is not so considerable.

What do the John Locke and Thomas Hobbes theories of the social contract have in common?

Locke and Hobbes both share a vision of the social contract as instrumental in a state’s political stability . However, their respective philosophies were informed by a starkly contrasting vision of human nature.

What did Thomas Hobbes argue for?

Throughout his life, Hobbes believed that the only true and correct form of government was the absolute monarchy . He argued this most forcefully in his landmark work, Leviathan. This belief stemmed from the central tenet of Hobbes’ natural philosophy that human beings are, at their core, selfish creatures.

How did Hobbes and Locke differ in their views on the role of government?

How did Hobbes and Locke differ in their views on the role of government? ... Hobbes believed in a powerful government that controlled the people so that they not be greedy and cruel . Locke believed in natural rights and thought people were basically reasonable and that they had a right to life, liberty and property.

What were the differences between the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke How did each view human nature?

Merriman: Compares Hobbes and Locke. Both believed government is for the good of mankind . ... In analyses of Hobbes, many variations of his statement that life outside of government was “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” can be seen.

Did Thomas Hobbes believe in natural rights?

Hobbes asserted that the people agreed among themselves to “lay down” their natural rights of equality and freedom and give absolute power to a sovereign. ... Hobbes believed that a government headed by a king was the best form that the sovereign could take .

What type of government did Thomas Hobbes believe in?

Hobbes promoted that monarchy is the best form of government and the only one that can guarantee peace. In some of his early works, he only says that there must be a supreme sovereign power of some kind in society, without stating definitively which sort of sovereign power is best.

What is the difference between Thomas Hobbes and John Locke’s view on social contract?

Hobbes theory of Social Contract supports absolute sovereign without giving any value to individuals , while Locke and Rousseau supports individual than the state or the government.

What did Locke believe about the social contract?

In simple terms, Locke’s social contract theory says: government was created through the consent of the people to be ruled by the majority, “(unless they explicitly agree on some number greater than the majority) ,” and that every man once they are of age has the right to either continue under the government they were ...

What did Locke believe?

In political theory, or political philosophy, John Locke refuted the theory of the divine right of kings and argued that all persons are endowed with natural rights to life, liberty, and property and that rulers who fail to protect those rights may be removed by the people, by force if necessary.

Which statement would Thomas Hobbes agree?

With which statement would Thomas Hobbes agree? An absolute monarch can best guarantee law and order .

How are John Locke and Thomas Hobbes different?

Locke believed that we have the right to life as well as the right to just and impartial protection of our property. Any violation of the social contract would one in a state of war with his fellow countrymen. Conversely, Hobbes believed that if you simply do what you are told, you are safe.

What is Hobbes theory?

In Leviathan (1651), Hobbes argued that the absolute power of the sovereign was ultimately justified by the consent of the governed , who agreed, in a hypothetical social contract, to obey the sovereign in all matters in exchange for a guarantee of peace and security.

How did Thomas Hobbes view of government differ from John Locke’s did the ideas of either influence the new government of the United States?

Thesis: John Locke and Thomas Hobbes each advocated divergent tenets of human nature and government during the seventeenth century; John Locke promoted an optimistic view of human nature in which they lived under a government that protected the rights of the people; Thomas Hobbes published his perspective of the human ...

What is Thomas Hobbes theory of social contract?

Hobbes is famous for his early and elaborate development of what has come to be known as “social contract theory”, the method of justifying political principles or arrangements by appeal to the agreement that would be made among suitably situated rational, free, and equal persons .

What ideas did Thomas Hobbes have?

Despite advocating the idea of absolutism of the sovereign, Hobbes developed some of the fundamentals of European liberal thought: the right of the individual; the natural equality of all men ; the artificial character of the political order (which led to the later distinction between civil society and the state); the ...

How does Hobbes define injustice?

How does he define injustice? Hobbes’ definition of justice is that first, men must be required to keep all contracts that they have made- to keep all covenants. ... His definition of injustice would be through the violation of terms of the contract/ not performing valid covenants .

Why do you agree with John Locke?

“I definetely say i agree with John Locke , because thomas hobbes said one person should rule and have unlimited power . joh locke said that people should make changes. ... Because he thought about life a place where there’s solution while Hobbes did not thought about life way.

Does Locke believe in reason?

Locke believes that using reason to try to grasp the truth , and determine the legitimate functions of institutions will optimize human flourishing for the individual and society both in respect to its material and spiritual welfare.

What is the meaning of Locke?

Locke has multiple origins and meanings, including: from Old English, as an occupational surname for locksmiths or lock keepers ; ... from Old English and Old High German, as a name for one with curly hair. from a romanization of “Lok”, the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese surname Luo 駱/骆.

Who thought of natural rights?

Locke wrote that all individuals are equal in the sense that they are born with certain “inalienable” natural rights. That is, rights that are God-given and can never be taken or even given away. Among these fundamental natural rights, Locke said, are “life, liberty, and property.”

Why did Hobbes believe in the rule of a king or queen?

Hobbes believed in the rule of a king or queen because he felt a country needs an authority figure to provide direction and leadership .

Which statement would Enlightenment thinkers agree with?

Terms in this set (5)

It encouraged people to use reason to solve problems. With which statement would Enlightenment thinker John Locke have agreed? People have the right to overthrow a government that violates their rights.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.