Hobbes vs. Locke

The Question of Authority, in a time of unquestioned authority

Thomas Hobbes

•Born in England, 1588-1679.

•He experienced a troubled childhood

•His most important work, Leviathan was written in 1651 amongst the turmoil of the English civil wars, influencing his political theories (he took off and lived in France...absolutist, peaceful France)

•His ideas are shaped by the prominent thinkers of the time, partaking in ‘thought experiment’ to make his conclusions on human nature.

•Based on rational thought and the observations of humanity, Hobbes concluded that “the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” His political theory is an extension of these beliefs and how humanity can best function under these conditions.

John Locke•Born in England, 1632-1704

•He is often referred to as the father of modern philosophy as his theories on the nature of matter and knowledge have influenced political thought in most of the English speaking world.

•He initiated the idea of the mind as a tabula rasa or blank slate, ready to receive sensations from the outside world. When the mind analyzes this data, we arrive at ideas.

In Two Treatises of Government (1690), Locke counters Hobbes’ beliefs and affirming that the state of nature is a peaceful and happy place. His political theories are based on humanity attempting to best maintain that state of nature

*fun fact- was commissioned to write the first ever constitution for a colony in the United States

Analysis

•Read the excerpts from Leviathan (pgs 27- 30) and Two Treatises of Government (pgs 31- 34) and answer the following questions:

1) Compare (what is similar) and contrast (what is different) between Locke and Hobbes, based on their ideas:

i) Concerning human nature (4) ii) The relationship between the governing body and its people (4)

2) What is the fundamental idea that differentiates the two theories? (hint: Humans in a state of nature are…)(2)

3) Which of these men better suits or legitimizes the ruling style of the 16th and 17th centuries, according to what you know? Explain. (2)

4) Whose ideas have greater influenced Canada’s current system of government? Explain. (1)

The Enlightenment

Textbook 144- 152

Joseph Wright An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump 1768

ancien regime (the old regime)- across the continent- highly developed in France

Divinely ordained structure

1st + 2nd Estate= 5% of entire population

The Old Regime

The Old Regime

Privileges, enforceable by law, honorific and prestige (nobleman could carry a sword)

Material- exempt from taxes, mortmain

Divine Right- absolute authority however bound by the custom of the community and nobility (which exercised power in local areas)- annoying to a King- Louis XIV

Knowledge, Progress and Social Criticism

Philosophes- liberal, hated evils of society, hated intolerance

empiricism (all knowledge is based on sense experience) or rationalism (reason itself is a source of knowledge, independent of the senses)

“nothing was to be accepted as true or real unless substantiated by evidence”- even knowledge itself was put to this test

Knowledge, Progress and Social Criticism

Diderot- the Encyclopedia

Philosophes- motivated by a desire to improve humanity (social, political and economic conditions of all people...awww, isn’t that sweet)

Voltaire 1649- 1778- attacked all accepted beliefs- (particularly Catholicism) and praised English liberty- lived in exile, key writer, celebrity of the Enlightenment

Voltaire

“we must cultivate our garden”

“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

Lisbon, Portugal Earthquake in 1755- arbitrariness was evidence to him

What exactly was the Enlightenment?

1. Age of optimism- tempered by the realistic recognition of the sad state of the human condition and the need for reform

2. Belief in Progress

3. New value system- freedom of/from, rights and equality

What exactly was the Enlightenment?

4. Belief that humanity, through reason, was gaining mastery over the world (credit to Newton)

5. A time of human rights promotion through public education, freedom of thought, press and speech

6. Belief that reason would triumph over authority of tradition, and the happiness of humanity would be assured

Immanuel Kant-

“Aude Sapere”- Dare to Think

Marquis de Condorcet, Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind (1795)

So…are we an enlightened society in 2015?