John Locke's Theory vs. Thomas Hobbes' Theory

Attribute	John Locke's Theory	Thomas Hobbes' Theory
View on human nature	Humans are inherently good and rational	Humans are inherently selfish and brutish
Role of government	Government exists to protect natural rights	Government exists to maintain order and prevent chaos
Right to revolution	People have the right to revolt against unjust government	People do not have the right to revolt against government
Social contract	People enter into a social contract to protect their rights	People enter into a social contract to maintain order

Background

John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were both influential philosophers who lived during the 17th century. They both contributed significantly to the field of political philosophy, particularly in the areas of social contract theory and the nature of government. While they shared some similarities in their beliefs, there were also key differences in their theories.

State of Nature

One of the fundamental differences between Locke and Hobbes lies in their views on the state of nature. Hobbes believed that in a state of nature, humans were inherently selfish and competitive, leading to a constant state of war. He argued that in order to escape this chaos, individuals needed to surrender their rights to a sovereign ruler who would maintain order. In contrast, Locke believed that in a state of nature, humans were rational and capable of living peacefully together. He argued that individuals had natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that government existed to protect these rights.

Social Contract

Both Locke and Hobbes believed in the concept of a social contract, but they had different views on its nature. Hobbes believed that the social contract was a binding agreement between individuals and the sovereign ruler, in which individuals surrendered their rights in exchange for protection and security. He argued that the ruler's authority was absolute and that individuals had no right to rebel against it. On the other hand, Locke believed that the social contract was a mutual agreement between individuals and the government, in which individuals retained certain rights and could rebel against the government if it failed to protect those rights.

Role of Government

Another key difference between Locke and Hobbes was their views on the role of government. Hobbes believed that government should have absolute power in order to maintain order and prevent chaos. He argued that individuals needed to surrender their rights to the government in order to ensure their own safety and security. In contrast, Locke believed that government should be limited in its powers and exist to protect the natural rights of individuals. He argued that individuals had the right to rebel against a government that violated their rights.

Property Rights

Locke and Hobbes also had differing views on property rights. Hobbes believed that property rights were created by the sovereign ruler and that individuals had no inherent right to property. He argued that individuals needed to surrender their property to the government in order to ensure social order. On the other hand, Locke believed that individuals had a natural right to property, which was derived from their labor. He argued that individuals had the right to acquire and possess property as long as they did not harm others in the process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while John Locke and Thomas Hobbes both made significant contributions to political philosophy, their theories differed in key areas. Hobbes believed that humans were inherently selfish and competitive, leading to a state of war in the absence of government. He argued for a strong, absolute government to maintain order and prevent chaos. On the other hand, Locke believed that humans were rational and capable of living peacefully together in a state of nature. He argued for a limited government that existed to protect the natural rights of individuals. These differences in their theories continue to shape political debates and discussions to this day.