Thomas Hobbes & John Locke

Ch 14: New Directions in Thought and Culture

Focus Question

• What were the similarities and differences between Locke & Hobbes?

Thomas Hobbes• English philosopher (1588-1679)• Fled London to Paris in 1640

because of the Civil War• Tutored future Charles II

• Supported absolutism• Denied divine right, thus lost favor in Stuart eyes

Thomas Hobbes

• Wrote The Leviathan• Named for Biblical all- powerful sea monster • Government must, as well, be all-powerful

Hobbes’ State of Natural Man• Humans in their original, natural state were

miserable

• Constant state of war and competition

• “Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice”

Hobbes’ Social Contract

• People enter into social contract to surrender freedom to a ruler

• Need an iron fist

• Grants ruler absolute power to maintain law and order

• Ruler is not subject contract

• People have no right to complain

Hobbes’ Influence

• His ideas never very popular Supported absolutism when democracy popular in England

• Overshadowed by John Locke

John Locke

• Foremost English philosopher of 17th century (1632-1704)

• Puritan-leaning Anglican family • His father fought on side of

Parliament in Civil War• During Charles II’s reign he fled

for safety to Holland

John Locke• In 1689 after James II was removed,

returned to England• In 1690 published philosophical

justification of Glorious Revolution in his Two Treatises of Government

Locke’s State of Natural Man

• People in original state of nature were happy

Possess natural rights to life, liberty, and property

Contrast to Hobbes who said there was no law without someone in charge

Locke’s Social Contract• Social contract is to protect natural rights• People enter into social contract to create gov’t• Grant gov’t limited powers• Government is subject to contract and the

consent of the governed• If government fails its agreement, people

have right to alter or end it

Locke’s Conclusion• James II had violated social contract • Therefore he deserved to be deposed• (Right of Revolution)

Locke’s Influence• Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of Independence)

• Framers of the Constitution

• Other Enlightenment thinkers, like Jean Jacques Rousseau (Social Contract)