Thomas Hobb’sThomas Hobb’s1588-16791588-1679

Asks what is the Asks what is the essential “natureessential “natureof humanity?of humanity? He tries to answer He tries to answer the question in the question in The The Leviathan Leviathan

In the state of Nature…In the state of Nature…

There are no laws, no courts, no There are no laws, no courts, no political organizationpolitical organization

““I want what I want I want what I want when I want it!”when I want it!”

Can’t we just be nice to one Can’t we just be nice to one another? another?

Even appearance of altruism satisfies Even appearance of altruism satisfies a personal need.a personal need.

Why did Lincoln Why did Lincoln rescue the piglets?rescue the piglets?

mutual gain…mutual gain…

In Nature…In Nature…

Whatever I desire Whatever I desire is “good” is “good”

Whatever Whatever threatens me is threatens me is “evil”“evil”

In Nature…In Nature…

all people are equal… all people are equal… equally capable of killing one another equally capable of killing one another either by strength, manipulation, or in either by strength, manipulation, or in collaboration with otherscollaboration with others

Humans are by nature are…Humans are by nature are…

1- Vain: 1- Vain: we love self-glorificationwe love self-glorificationwe want others to value us as highly we want others to value us as highly as we doas we do (So our goal is reputation)(So our goal is reputation)

2- Competitive2- Competitive: : when two people when two people desire the same thing and only one can desire the same thing and only one can have it they become enemies. have it they become enemies. (So our goal (So our goal is profit or gain)is profit or gain)

The result of our The result of our competitiveness?competitiveness?

3- 3- SuspiciousnessSuspiciousness:: you never know when you never know when

someone will konk you on the head someone will konk you on the head from behind and pick you clean from behind and pick you clean (So (So our goal is safety). our goal is safety).

Was Hobbes a Pessimist? Was Hobbes a Pessimist?

Just because we’re serious about Just because we’re serious about protecting our things and our safety protecting our things and our safety doesn’t mean we expect the worst in doesn’t mean we expect the worst in others.others.

BUTBUTWithout rules the possibility of Without rules the possibility of lapsing into state of nature exists…lapsing into state of nature exists…we all may act vain, competitive, or we all may act vain, competitive, or unduly suspicious of one another…. unduly suspicious of one another….

What should we do? What should we do?

Why trade some of our freedom to live I Why trade some of our freedom to live I community? community?

Do we need a “social contract” ?Do we need a “social contract” ?So we don’t suffer from injustice, So we don’t suffer from injustice,

BUT we can’t give up our rightBUT we can’t give up our right

for self preservation andfor self preservation and

self defense. self defense.

We agree to have a leader: We agree to have a leader: LeviathanLeviathan

We seek peace (Social Contract) we We seek peace (Social Contract) we have a better chance of survival have a better chance of survival with with Absolute MonarchAbsolute Monarch to impose to impose social order social order

We won’t harm one anotherWe won’t harm one another We rely on one another to keep our We rely on one another to keep our

promisespromises If we don’t keep our promises the If we don’t keep our promises the

contract is null and void contract is null and void

John LockeJohn Locke1632-17041632-1704

Asks what is the essential “natureAsks what is the essential “natureof humanity?of humanity?

He tries to answer the question in He tries to answer the question in Two Treatises on Government (1690)Two Treatises on Government (1690)

Humans are by nature are…Humans are by nature are…

Reasonable and cooperativeReasonable and cooperativeabundance-no competitionabundance-no competition

Created by God with Created by God with inalienable rights to inalienable rights to lifelife, , liberty liberty and the and the pursuit of pursuit of personal propertypersonal property: : self and fruit of laborself and fruit of labor

What should we do?What should we do?

Create a “Social contract”: that acts Create a “Social contract”: that acts in our rational self-interestin our rational self-interest

Absolute Monarchy Absolute Monarchy

violates purpose of violates purpose of

civil societycivil society