Conflict of Views: John Locke Vs. Thomas Hobbes on Man and Politics

1. John Locke Vs. Thomas HobbesConflicting views of man and politics R.Graff

2. Background for Thomas Hobbes1588-1679 • Great philosopher of the 17th century • Supported new scientific movements • Visited Paris • Knew Descartes, Galileo, and Harvey • A great historian • 1st book was a history book, History of the Peloponnesian War • Witnessed the horrors of the English Civil War

3. The Leviathan • One of the most influential books ever written • Hobbes’ aim was to provide a justification for a strong central authority • Portrayed man and society in a materialistic and mechanical way • All humans are egotistical and selfish

4. Nature of man and government • Man is driven by physical motivations only • Man does not seek higher spiritual things • Lacks the capability of true morality • Left along man is destructive • Man must be controlled • That control comes in the form of a strong central ruler- The Leviathan

5. Hobbes in his own words • "In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain, and consequently, not culture of the earth, no navigation, nor the use of commodities that may be imported by sea, no commodious building, no instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force, no knowledge of the face of the earth, no account of time, no arts, no letters, no society, and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."[2]

6. Nature of monarchy • The sovereign has twelve principal rights: • because a successive covenant cannot override a prior one, the subjects cannot (lawfully) change the form of government. • because the covenant forming the commonwealth results from subjects giving to the sovereign the right to act for them, the sovereign cannot possibly breach the covenant; and therefore the subjects can never argue to be freed from the covenant because of the actions of the sovereign. • the sovereign exists because the majority has consented to his rule; the minority have agreed to abide by this arrangement and must then assent to the sovereign's actions. • every subject is author of the acts of the sovereign: hence the sovereign cannot injure any of his subjects and cannot be accused of injustice. • following this, the sovereign cannot justly be put to death by the subjects. • because the purpose of the commonwealth is peace, and the sovereign has the right to do whatever he thinks necessary for the preserving of peace and security and prevention of discord. Therefore, the sovereign may judge what opinions and doctrines are averse, who shall be allowed to speak to multitudes, and who shall examine the doctrines of all books before they are published. • to prescribe the rules of civil law and property. • to be judge in all cases. • to make war and peace as he sees fit and to command the army. • to choose counsellors, ministers, magistrates and officers. • to reward with riches and honour or to punish with corporal or pecuniary punishment or ignominy. • to establish laws about honour and a scale of worth.

7. The Concept of “Contract” • The “contract” is a concept seen in the works of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau • For Hobbes it is an agreement to live in a tightly controlled society • People would give up their personal rights to ensure peace and self defense • In a fashion- The “Golden Rule”

8. Revolution????? No Way!! • For Hobbes anarchy is more dangerous than tyranny • There is no argument for appeal • Rulers should be absolute and unlimited in their power

9. Type of Government • For Hobbes the type of absolutism was not of concern • Whether it is a monarchy, oligarchy, legislative body etc. does not matter • It is the nature of authority not the type. • For Hobbes the worst form of government is the representative form ie. Republic

10. John Locke • The most influential political thinker of the 17th century • Major source of criticism against absolutism • Foundation of liberal political philosophy • Puritan sympathies • Family fought on the side of Parliament in Civil War • Locke was considered radical in both his religious and his political views

11. First Treaties of Government • Rejects argument for absolutism • Although this first work by Locke is not widely read it did prove to be the starting point for his argument supporting representative government

12. Second Treaties of Civil Goverment • Here Locke presents his full argument for representative government • Opposite to Hobbes he presents the nature of man to be good, reasonable and full of goodwill • Man has certain natural rights • Life • Liberty • property

13. Locke’s argument continued • Man has a strong capacity for living peacefully in society • There is modest conflict and competition but not war • They enter into a contract with the leader to protect the rights • Locke concludes that the best form of government is one of limited authority • Conflict exists only when rulers fail to defend the natural rights of their citizens • Locke concludes that man has the RIGHT OF REBELLION!!!!

14. Letters Concerning Toleration • Provided a foundation for religious toleration and religious liberties • He also advocated the separation of Church and State • Many of his ideas will be incorporated after 1688 (Glorious Rev.) and after the American Rev.

15. Essay Concerning Human Understanding • Concerned itself with psychology • Man is born the Tabla Rasa, the Blank Slate • The events of our lives determine who we will be • Change the environment, change the man • Rejects the idea of original sin • People are not born good or bad • Society makes us what we are

16. Locke and Hobbes • Both men present a rational reasonable argument for their perspective concept of government • Both men were a product of their experience • Both me will have a profound impact on the subject of political science • Their views are still being argued today