PHILOSOPHERS WHO

INFLUENCED LIBERALISM

Danielle Downey

THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1679)

Thomas Hobbes believed people to be inherently selfish. If this characteristic was left unchecked, it would result in chaos and harm to everyone. He thought that as a group of people we have not done a good job of handling power. He believed that society should give up all power to one protecting ruler, called the Leviathan. Hobbes’ vision for the future was security for all individuals. He wanted people to give up their sovereignty in exchange for this.

JOHN LOCKE (1632-1778)Unlike Hobbes, Locke had the

belief that human beings are moral and reasonable. He thought society should give up some of their rights to the government in the pursuit of social order and security for themselves and their property. If this idea were followed, the government would exploit the rights they took from the people because eventually all governments become corrupt.

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU (1712-1778)

Rousseau agreed with Locke regarding the subject of human nature. Additionally, he believed in a state of nature. State of nature means society running itself without a higher authority. He was of the opinion that society reduced itself to its present state by allowing the government too much power. If this structure of society had been followed, people would have taken advantage of the system and ruined it.

John Locke

Thomas HobbesJean-Jacques

Rousseau