Hobbes vs. Locke

Hobbes vs. Locke

Point/Counterpoint

The colonists could take no more. After years of tough laws, unfair taxes, and lack of representation, they decided that they had had enough. They were ready to sever their ties with England. Splitting ties with England, the colonists knew, would lead to full scale war. The colonists drafted a document, the Declaration of Independence, to make their views clearly known to the British. This document is important in U.S. history because it marks the date, July 4, 1776, that the colonists declared their independence. Today, July 4 is still the date on which Americans celebrate independence. Much work went into the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. The authors of this document did not invent the ideas entirely on their own, however.

Much of the inspiration for the Declaration

of Independence came from European

theorists Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.

These two men spent much of their lives

thinking about what makes us human. Are

there ways humans will always behave?

What makes a society, and more

importantly, what makes a successful

society? As they pondered these questions,

Hobbes and Locke each wrote important essays on human nature, morality, and the structure of society. Their theories provided a foundation for modern government and law. However, the two men's ideas differed

John Locke (1632?1704) wrote Two Treaties on Civil Government, in which he stated the people should rebel against a government that limits their basic human rights.

in their assumptions about human nature

and their approaches to government. Although the two men were both

influential to the colonists as they drafted the Declaration of Independence, it

was Locke's views that left a more lasting impression in America.

Both Thomas Hobbes and John Locke believed that human nature created the social order of society, but they disagreed on what that natural order looked like. Hobbes had a negative view of humanity. He thought that men were naturally selfish and concerned only with the survival of themselves at the expense of others. He believed that men in their natural state would always create conflict. Society, then, was needed to create order. Hobbes believed society was important but that creating it required a struggle against human nature.

Locke, on the other hand, had a more positive view of people. He saw humans as good-natured, social creatures. He believed that respect and honor were

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Hobbes vs. Locke

Point/Counterpoint

basic elements of the human spirit. He also thought humans had a high level of reason. In Locke's view, people were capable of telling right from wrong and used acceptable social standards when resolving conflicts. Instead of war and conflict, Locke thought that peace was the natural state of man.

Although Locke and Hobbes viewed humanity in different lights, both men agreed that a social compact should be established to regulate society's conflicts. A social compact is an agreement between people in a society that defines and restricts actions. Both men believed that a social compact helped maintain equality. That is because a social compact was to be created by the members of society. If a higher power, like a king, creates a social compact, some groups may be unfairly treated. When people create their own social compact, Locke and Hobbes believed that equality would be the most important idea of the compact. Both believed that natural law is for the benefit of all of humanity and not for any single social class. Both theorists believed that rules were needed to regulate society. The role of the government, then, was to encourage people to accept the rules.

While it is true that both Locke and Hobbes believed in a social compact

between all members of society, they differed on what that compact would look

like. Hobbes thought that all people desired power. It is unlikely that all

members of a society can have the

same amount of power. This creates an

environment of conflict that he

believed was the natural state. Hobbes

thought that society must be regulated

to make sure it was peaceful. Control

of society would be the responsibility

of the government. It would need to

monitor its own laws to ensure that its

power would not be abused. In

Hobbes's opinion, citizens should

Front page of Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan, which approved of a government's unrestricted power.

never challenge the authority of the government. It was up to the government to regulate and control

itself.

The social compact of Locke's writings opposed the oppressive authority of Hobbes's theory. Instead, he thought all people had the same rights to freedom

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Hobbes vs. Locke

Point/Counterpoint

and libery. Locke placed emphasis on man's virtue. He believed that men had basic rights of life, liberty, and property. He wrote against blind acceptance of laws that violated the natural order of peace. He placed responsibility for governing society on each person. Locke saw government as a way to maintain and protect natural law. Government should exist to ensure justice.

Hobbes disagreed with Locke's ideas about basic human rights. Instead, he saw human rights as ideas existing only within a society. Without society, the rights did not exist and therefore could not be a natural right. In other words, the only way we have any rights is by existing as part of a society. Hobbes thought that humanity would have to willingly give up their desire for power to ensure peace. However, Hobbes saw government as a good method of controlling the natural state of men. The government would establish rules that could not be challenged by citizens.

Hobbes and Locke had opposing viewpoints on the role of government in society. Hobbes's belief in absolute power was similar to England's rule of the colonies. There was no room for change. Because they disagreed with English rule, many colonists embraced Locke's ideas. Based on the logic of Locke, the colonists had every right to rebel against the English crown. Many of Locke's ideas are reflected in the Declaration of Independence. In fact, the second sentence of the Declaration reads as follows, "We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Sound familiar? These are the ideas of Locke, brought to life in this important document. By examining the philosophies of Locke and Hobbes, we can better understand how Locke's views in particular came to influence U.S. history.

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Hobbes vs. Locke

Point/Counterpoint

After reading the passage, answer the following questions:

1. Which philosophical belief matched the colonists' views? A. Hobbes's belief that the government should regulate itself B. Hobbes's belief that rules should not be challenged by citizens C. Locke's belief that humans were unable to tell right from wrong D. Locke's belief that government could help protect natural law

2. John Locke thought that people naturally had the following basic rights: A. water, shelter, and food. B. love, anger, and power. C. life, liberty, and property. D. taxes, death, and religion.

3. Thomas Hobbes thought the natural state of man was A. peace. B. conflict. C. happiness. D. loneliness.

4. In your opinion, was the American Revolution justified? Base your answer on the theories of either Locke or Hobbes. Use examples from the reading passage to support your answer.

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