1. Hobbes vs. Locke In
The State of Nature!

2. Learning Targets:
Students will be able to define their own views on the state of nature.
Students will be able to argue for a weak or strong government based on their views of the state of nature.

3. What is the State of Nature?
Question: How do you act when no one is looking?
The State of Nature is…
A mythical time period.
No government or power to control people.
In other words, how we think people would act if they were never taught how to act.

4. Present for the class!
I make kids fight over a bag of candy – to create a state of nature! Hopefully no one gets hurt. =)

5. Thomas Hobbes Bio Born 1588 Died 1679 Best known work – Leviathan
Lived during the English Civil War (

6. What Hobbes Thinks
During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man.
Think, Pair, Share – What does this mean?

7. John Locke Bio Born 1632 Died 1704 Most famous work – Two Treatises
Lived during the Glorious Revolution (AKA The Bloodless Revolution)

8. What Locke Thinks
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.
Think, Pair, Share – What does this mean?

9. Choose a side!
Who do you agree with more, Hobbes or Locke? Hobbes? Go to the right side of the room. Locke? Go to the left side of the room.

10. What kind of Government do you want?
Discuss among your group the following:
Given what you believe about how people act in a state of nature what kind of government do you think should be put into place?
Weak  SPECTRUM  Strong

11. Social Contract Theory
Basic definition: In order to form a society, people must agree to certain terms (a contract) both moral and political for such a society to exists.

12. Hobbes View on Government
For the laws of Nature (as justice, equity, modesty, mercy, and, in sum, doing to others as we would be done to) of themselves, without the terror of some power, to cause them to be observed, are contrary to our natural passions, that carry us to partiality, pride, revenge and the like. Does he believe in strong government or weak?

13. Hobbes Social Contract
State of Nature is a state of war.
Therefore the people must give up their freedom to an absolute ruler.
In exchange the ruler must protect the people from each other.

14. Locke’s View on Govn’t
The majority having, as has been shewed, upon men's first uniting into society, the whole power of the community naturally in them, may employ all that power in making laws for the community from time to time, and executing those laws by officers of their own appointing; and then the form of the government is a perfect democracy... What kind of government does Locke want? Is this a strong or weak government?

15. Locke’s Social Contract
State of Nature is a state of perfect liberty.
People still have morals although there is no government to enforce those morals.
At times a state of war can happen when one person (or more) violates the laws of nature.
Therefore a government is needed to enforce the laws of nature.
People give up some rights to the government and the government must enforce the laws of nature.
Key for Locke is that the people do not
give up the right to choose a new
government if the current one isn’t
holding up its end of the bargain.

16. Formative Assessment
In 3-5 sentences explain who’s view on the state of nature you agree with more, Hobbes or Locke?
In 3-5 sentences explain what kind of government you think is best for society and make sure to relate it back to your view of the state of nature.