Political theories of Hobbes and Locke
The Political Theories of Hobbes and LockeIn the sixteenth century, the rise of the state and decline of the feudal system brought about the question of authority, whose is absolute, God or man? Should the state have power over its subjects or the subjects over the state? Soon after the theory of sovereignty and the theory of social contract were developed, but even these still drew debate.Thomas Hobbes and John Locke's political theories have been influential ever since they were first developed in the late seventeenth century. During this time there was an outpouring of political ideas, Locke and Hobbes's theories stand out. Their theories are both psychologically insightful, but in nature, they are drastically different. Although they lived in the same time frame, their ideas were derived from different events happening during this time. Hobbes drew his ideas on man from observation, during a time of civil strife in Europe during the 1640's and 1650's. Locke drew his ideas from a time where Hobbes did not have the chance to observe, the glorious revolution. At the time of the exclusion crisis in England, Hobbes was either dying or dead. These two time periods are very influential in the development of these two
His views on government were that it should protect these rights. As you will see, Hobbes developed a pessimistic view on man from his dreary and bleak surroundings while Locke developed an optimistic outlook on man from his eventful and promising times. Because Locke has very different ideas about human nature this is what makes their theories so opposite. It is easy to support one's views over another's but it is not possible to denounce one's as not being true or correct. He concluded that the only way to restrain mans' natural aggression is by implementing an absolute power, whose main objective is to keep his subjects in line. He too agrees that mans' state of nature is a state of war and that a contract among the people can end the chaos that precedes the establishment of a civil society but his conclusions were drastically different. Locke's most influential work, Two Treatises on Government, was written during the exclusion crisis of King James II and was published after William and Mary had succeeded him to the throne. Hobbes has a pessimistic view on the nature of man while Locke's views, influenced by empiricism, were optimistic. The basis for Hobbes's theory on government root from his beliefs on human behavior. In this Hobbes stated that people by nature are selfish and ambitious. Aside from this similarity, the two couldn't seem to think more differently. It is only appropriate that these two great political philosophers be references to all great political thinkers to follow. In this he states, like Hobbes, that man must make a social contract in order to live in an orderly and civilized society. While Hobbes believed that humans are implanted with the instinct to be selfish and ambitious, Locke believed that no knowledge is preordained and that all people, at birth, have a tabula rasa, or clean slate.
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