Political Philosophies of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes believed that humans were naturally selfish and violent and needed a strong, authoritarian government to control them. He argued that the best form of government was an absolute monarchy, in which the ruler had complete control over the people. Hobbes believed that people should surrender their individual rights to the state in exchange for protection and security. In his view, the government’s power was unlimited, and there was no right to rebel against it.

On the other hand, John Locke believed that people were naturally reasonable and moral, and that government existed to protect their natural rights. Locke believed that individuals had certain natural rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, which could not be taken away by the government. According to Locke, the government’s role was to protect these natural rights, and if it failed to do so, the people had the right to overthrow it. In Locke’s view, the best form of government was a limited government that respected the rights of individuals and was accountable to them.

In summary, Hobbes believed in a strong, authoritarian government, while Locke believed in a limited government that protected individual rights. Hobbes believed that people were naturally violent and selfish, while Locke believed that people were naturally reasonable and moral. These two political philosophies have had a profound impact on political thought and have influenced many political movements throughout history.