1. John Locke v. Thomas Hobbes
Two Theories on Government

2. State of Nature DIFFERENCE Locke: State of relative peace
Hobbes: State of war!

3. Status of Men in the State of Nature
Similarity: Men are equal in a state of nature
Difference: Men are equal for different reasons
Locke: Men are created equal in eyes of their creator. All have reason. All can universal understanding of natural rights and law
Hobbes: Men are equal because the weakest is capable of killing the strongest and because all men believe they are just as smart as his fellow man which facilitates greed and competition

4. Men as Rational Creatures?
SIMILARITY
Both men believe men enter into a social compact (create a government) because it is in their self-interest and will advance their condition

5. Purpose for Government’s Existence
SIMILARITY
Men create government to secure their lives and property
State of nature requires additional regulation - natural law is not enough

6. HOW Government is Created
SIMILARITY
Men give up the total freedom they have in the state of nature to live under rules
DIFFERENCE
Locke: Men willingly give up SOME of their freedom to the government
Hobbes: Men willingly give up ALL of their freedom to the government

7. Type of Government Established
DIFFERENCE
Locke: A legislative body containing representatives chosen by the very people who created it
Hobbes: An absolute monarchy or dictatorship

8. SOURCE of Government’s Authority
SIMILARITY
The people!!!!!!!!
Known as “social contract”

9. Right to Alter / Abolish Government
DIFFERENCE
Locke: “where law ends, tyranny begins”
If representatives violate laws of nature, they can be overthrown and men will revert to a state of nature
Hobbes: “where no law, no justice”
If you remove the government, men will revert to a state of war - this is not in their self-interest.

10. Human Nature DIFFERENCE
Locke: men are intrinsically good (tabla rusa) but flawed
They are capable of restraining these flaws and governing themselves
Hobbes: men are intrinsically evil
Self-aggrandizing creatures require external control

11. World Views / Life Experiences
DIFFERENCE
Hobbes: exiled from England in 1640s during English Civil War
Witnessed worst of humanity
Locke: Published his work after the “Glorious” or “Bloodless” Revolution (1680s)
Power was transferred from Catholic monarch to a Protestant monarch without violence and a Bill of Rights was established

12. Which author had the greatest impact on American government?
Who do you agree with?
Which author had the greatest impact on American government?