Hobbes and Locke Social Contract Theory Essay Example for Free

Hobbes and Locke Social Contract Theory Essaydoubting Thomas Hobbes and arse Locke argon two of the most influential semipolitical philosophers of the modern age. Their ideas on political philosophy, among a nonher(prenominal) ideas, fork up helped shaped the Western World, as we know it. One of the most important theories that the two get down two discussed, and written in detail on, is the idea of the social contract. Social Contract Theory is the view that incorrupt and/or political duties depend on a contract that leads to the formation of a civil conjunction. Thomas Hobbes was the commencement ceremony person to come up with the idea of a social contract in his text, Leviathan. As with either concept in history, early(a) political philosophers let used Hobbes theory as a stepping-st maven. One of those men is John Locke, who presents a very incompatible account of how it is civil society is formed. Although nigh(prenominal) men take a crap very different acco unts on the social contract nonion, there are some similarities between the two. Before putting pen to paper Hobbes had a front row seat to a quintessential moment in early English historythe English Civil War.The struggle was a dispute between female monarch Charles I and his followers, the Monarchists and the Parliamentarians. The Monarchists preferred the traditional authority of the king, while the Parliamentarians de earthded more precedent for Parliament, Englands quasi-democratic institution. Hobbes is somewhere in between the two groups with his own set of views. Hobbes believed that political authority is base on the egoism of the members of the society, completely of who are considered equal. He argued that no single individual had the agent to formula over the rest.He withal backed the conservative point of view that the sovereign mustiness have absolute authority in aver for society to last with come forth disruption. It is in the rejection of the Monarchist point of view, that Hobbes and Locke befall their first similarity. Both authors sought out to refute the positions presented by Robert Filmers Patriarcha, regarding the issue of the Divine chastise of Kings. Filmer believed that divinity gave absolute authority to the king. Since God gives the ply to the king, political society focused on obeying God unconditionally.Although Hobbes did agree that it was necessary for a king to have absolute authority in order to march on the citizenry in line, he believed that authority came from the people sprightliness in the community and not God. Lockes most influential political writings come from his Two Treatises On Government. His First Treatise is focused well-nigh entirely on rejecting Filmers theory. Locke is in line with Hobbes in his belief that political authority comes from the assume of the governed.Along with this similarity, both men as well as agree on the idea that those people in a State of Nature will willingly apply to coming in concert to form a political society. They also agree on the belief that people would live in fear of each other regardless of their business leader to use intellect. Hu homo disposition allows men to be selfish. All people have the natural right to defend their own life, liberty, health and property. This fear is what leads many people to come unneurotic and form a subject so that there would be a central authority to nourish their life, liberty, health and property of all people within society.Along with creating the outline for the social contract theory, Hobbes was also a major contribution to the idea of the State of Nature, a hypothetical situation used to evince how people lived before the formation of society. In the State of Nature, life was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short, characterized by self-interest and the absence of rights and laws (Hobbes 89). Hobbes believed that man was fundamentally evil and required a central authority to keep the m out of the conditions of the put up of nature. Locke, on the other hand, saw individuals as exercising moral limits over their actions.In order to answer the head of why the people should be willing to submit to political authority, Hobbes uses the idea of a State of Nature. This is a completely hypothetical situation through which he imagines what life was like for men before the establishment of civil society. In the State of Nature, men are naturally and entirely self interested, re lineages are extra and there is no power that forces the people to follow the rules of society. Men are also considered equal to unmatchable another in that even the strongest man can be killed in his sleep.There is no ability for men to ensure the satisfaction of their needs and desires as humans, and no prolonged systems of cooperation among men. The soil of nature is a state of constant fear and distrust, or as Hobbes puts it a state of perpetual and unavoidable fight (Hobbes 90). Based on the previous definition of the State of Nature, it would seem that mankind is doomed for eternity. However, forecast is not lost. Using the power of reason, they are able to understand the laws of nature, which lead man out of the state of nature and into civil society.A Law of Nature, (Lex Naturalis), is a Precept, or generall rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do, that, which is destructive of his life, or taketh away the means of preserving the same and to omit that, by which he thinketh it may be best preserved. (Hobbes 91) The first rule of nature is to seek peace when others are also willing to follow in the quest for peace, That every man, ought to endeavour Peace, as farre as he has hope of obtaining it and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek, and use, all helps, and advantages of Warre (Hobbes 92).In the pages leading up to the natural laws, Hobbes describes what it is that drives us to seek peace. The Passions that encline men to Peace, are F eare of Death Desire of such things as are necessary to well-to-do living and a Hope by their Industry to obtain them (Hobbes 90). These are the things that lead people out of the state of nature and into forming a political society. People want protection of their bodies, property, and commodious living. It is through reason that men are led to the construction of a Social Contract, allowing for a life better whence in the State of Nature.The social contract is formed through the establishment of two other contracts. The first contract is that they must agree to establish society by renouncing the rights that they had in the State of Nature. The second is that they must choose a single person, or an assembly of people, that will have the authority to enforce the heterogeneous parts of the contract. The sovereign has the power to punish those who violate the social contract, which leads people to adjust themselves to the rules of their society.In order to understand the purpose o f the Social Contract, Hobbes sets forth a definition of a commonwealth, or civil society And in him consisteth the Essence of the Commonwealth which (to define it,) is One Person, of whose Acts a great Multitude, by mutuall Covenants one with another, have made themselves every one the Author, to the end he may use the strength and means of them all, as he shall think expedient, for their Peace and Common Defence.(Locke 121) Without a common power to exercise force, society would be the same as it was while in the State of Nature. The Social Contract is considered to be the fundamental source within society for all that is good, along with being the force that allows us to live well. On the other side of the spectrum is another major figure in political philosophy, Locke. Lockes views are very different from that of Hobbes, besides the fact that Locke uses the State of Nature concept created by Hobbes.For Locke, the State of Nature is a state of complete and stark(a) liberty to l ive the best life possible, while being free from upset from others. We must consider what state all men are naturally in, and that is a state of perfect freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking present or depending upon the will of any other man. (Locke 5) In this state of equality no person has any power over any one elseeveryone is subjectively equal.The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it that, being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions (Locke 5). The state of nature is not a state of license, or a state of authority, in that individuals have the ability to do whatever they want. Although this society is pre-government, morals guide the laws of nature. God gives the natural laws to commands and us that we do not harm others, since we are all equal in the eyes of God.For Locke, the State of Nature is more like a state of liberty that allows the people to pursue their own interests free from interference. It is considered a peaceful state because of the natural laws and its restrictions on the people. Hobbes saw the State of Nature as being a state of constant war, a drastic change compared to the views presented by Locke. Although Lockes state is predominantly peaceful, there is potential for a State of War. concord to Locke, the State of War starts between two or more people when one person declares war on the other.This is usually done by stealing something from the other, or trying to make another man a slave. Since there is no central power to mediate the dispute and the laws of nature allow for self-defense, people are allowed to kill anyone that brings force against them. Without a force to mediate, the duration of wars is much longer and more brutal. policy-making societies form when men come together in the State of Nature, and agree to give up their power to punish those who disobey the laws of nature and give that power to a central authority. It is through this that the people consent to the will of the majority.Through leaving the state of nature and forming a society, the people create a one remains politic under one government and are thus subjected to the will of that particular body (Locke 55). The only way for one to become part of society is through our own individual consent, significance we cannot be forced to join the society. By joining a society, people gain a some things that they lacked in the State of Nature. These aspects consist of laws, a judge to settle disputes regarding laws and most importantly an executive power to enforce the law.The executive power is created for the protection of the people, their property and general well being. It is when this protection is non-existent, or the King becomes a tyrant by actin g against the interest of the people, that the contract can be thrown away. It is with this that the bear upon of establishing a social contract can begin once again, and also the power. Both Hobbes and Locke agree on the fact that people living in a state of nature will come together to form a contract amongst themselves, which ultimately leads to the establishment of society.Both Hobbes and Locke also agreed that people living in a state of nature would be living in a constant state of fear of one another before society is established. Hobbes has a much darker view of Human Nature, comprehend them as inherently evil, while Locke viewed man as being guided by rational self-interest with the ability to self-govern without the Leviathan watching over you. These two figures have helped shape our modern systems of government among many other things.