Eleanor Finch
John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were key Enlightenment philosophers whose political theories greatly influenced the formation of the US Constitution. Locke and Hobbes laid out their arguments with similar structures, both beginning with an exploration of the State of Nature, or the human condition before the development of civilization. However, their views on the role of government and individual rights differed significantly. Locke believed that a government's legitimacy stems from the consent of the governed and that people are entitled to certain fundamental rights, such as life, liberty, and property. Hobbes, on the other hand, advocated for Absolutism, with control of the state vested in a single individual free from limitations or accountability. He believed that people needed to surrender some of their rights to escape the State of Nature, which he described as a state of war. Despite their differences, both philosophers were instrumental in developing the concept of the Social Contract, which underlies civil society. Their ideas and theories had a profound impact on the Founding Fathers and continue to shape the foundational beliefs of American democracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Influence on the Declaration of Independence | Locke's ideas on natural rights and consent of the governed influenced the Declaration of Independence. Hobbes's ideas on the social contract and the role of government also played a role. |
| Influence on the Constitution | Locke's ideas on natural rights, limited government, and consent of the governed are reflected in the Constitution. Hobbes's concepts of a social contract and strong central government had an indirect influence. |
| Enlightenment Influence | Both Locke and Hobbes were key Enlightenment philosophers whose ideas influenced the development of American government and democracy. |
| Social Contract Theory | Locke and Hobbes contributed to the development of social contract theory, which underlies civil society. Locke believed a government should serve and protect all people, acting with the consent of the governed. Hobbes viewed the formation of a state as an effort to escape a state of war and constant struggle. |
| Views on Government | Hobbes was a proponent of Absolutism, while Locke favored a more open approach. Locke believed in the legitimacy of a government derived from the consent of the governed, while Hobbes advocated for a strong central government with individuals surrendering some rights. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Locke's natural rights
John Locke (1632–1704) is among the most influential political philosophers of the modern period. Locke's ideas about natural rights and religious freedom became foundational in the United States, influencing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Locke's theory of natural rights is perhaps the most central concept in his political philosophy. Locke believed that individuals are naturally endowed with rights to life, liberty, and property. These natural rights precede the establishment of civil society and are independent of the laws of any particular society. The state of nature, for Locke, is characterised by the absence of government but not by the absence of mutual obligation. Beyond self-preservation, the law of nature, or reason, teaches that all humans are equal and independent, and that no one ought to harm another in their life, liberty, or possessions.
Locke's concept of natural rights is closely tied to his theory of natural law. The idea of natural law existed long before Locke as a way of expressing the notion that certain moral truths applied to all people, regardless of their location or the agreements they had made. Locke saw no contradiction between divine law and natural law, believing that they were consistent and could overlap. However, he considered consistency with natural law to be a criterion for interpreting Biblical passages.
Locke's theory of natural rights and natural law is often referred to as a social contract theory. According to Locke, people in the state of nature conditionally transfer some of their rights to the government in order to better ensure the stable, comfortable enjoyment of their rights. In this way, the government's legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed, and governments that fail to protect the rights of their citizens can be resisted and replaced.
Locke's ideas about natural rights and religious freedom had a significant influence on the American Revolution and modern liberalism. His philosophy provided a foundation for the principles of equality and religious freedom that became central to American politics.
The US Constitution: What If It Was Different?
You may want to see also
Hobbes' social contract
The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes is widely regarded as one of the greatest political philosophers, with his work on social contract theory being of particular significance. Hobbes' social contract theory is founded on his hypothetical
In Hobbes' view, the State of Nature is a state of perpetual and unavoidable war, where there are no enforceable criteria of right and wrong. Human life in this state is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short". This is because, in the absence of any governing power, people take for themselves all that they can, and are in constant struggle over limited power and resources.
The social contract, therefore, is an agreement among individuals to exit this State of Nature and enter civil society. This contract involves individuals giving their liberty into the hands of a sovereign power, on the condition that their lives are safeguarded by that power. Hobbes believed that the authority of the sovereign is absolute and that no authority exists above the sovereign, whose will is law. This conclusion sets Hobbes apart from other philosophers, as it justifies the power of the sovereign and places no limits on their authority.
Hobbes' theory of the social contract is underpinned by his theory of human motivation, Psychological Egoism. This theory assumes that most people want, above all else, to avoid their own deaths. Therefore, individuals will be motivated to exit the State of Nature, as it is a state where death is likely. Hobbes also believed in the equality of all people, including women, which was a radical view for his time.
The Evolution of POTUS' Cabinet: How Many Are There Now?
You may want to see also
Absolutism vs anti-Absolutism
Absolutism is a political doctrine and practice of centralized authority and absolute sovereignty, typically vested in a single individual, such as a monarch or dictator. This individual holds unlimited power, free from any limitations, accountability, or regularized challenge by other agencies like the judiciary or legislature. The Age of Absolutism, from the 1600s to the late 1700s, saw the rise of absolute monarchies in much of Western Europe, including France, Spain, Prussia, and Austria. Monarchs during this transition from feudalism to capitalism consolidated power, reduced the influence of the church and nobility, and established standing armies and bureaucracies. The concept of the divine right of kings, asserting that kings derived their authority from God, was a cornerstone of justifying absolute monarchical rule.
In contrast, anti-absolutism, as espoused by John Locke, favored a more open approach to state-building. Locke believed in the social contract, which posited that a government's legitimacy stems from the consent of the governed. He advocated for representative government and emphasized the importance of human rights, marking a shift from the absolute monarchies of the past. Locke's ideas stood in stark opposition to those of Thomas Hobbes, who defended Absolutism and argued that complete obedience to a single ruler was necessary to maintain order and security. Hobbes' views were shaped by his experiences during the English Civil War, which led him to believe that the stability provided by an absolute ruler outweighed any form of tyranny.
The debate between Absolutism and anti-Absolutism had a significant impact on later Enlightenment philosophers and the Founding Fathers of the American Revolution. The American Constitution and Declaration of Independence reflected a preference for Locke's principles, emphasizing representative government and human rights. However, the influence of Hobbesian thought cannot be discounted, as the United States' history, including its own Civil War, demonstrates the ongoing complexity of these philosophical debates.
Understanding FMLA Leave for Your Child's College Education
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Influence on the Founding Fathers
John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were influential political philosophers during the Enlightenment period. Their ideas and theories regarding government and individual rights had a profound impact on the development of the American government, particularly through the American Revolution and the drafting of the US Constitution.
Locke's ideas on natural rights and limited government are reflected in the United States Constitution. Locke believed that people are inherently entitled to certain fundamental rights, such as life, liberty, and property, and that the purpose of government is to protect those rights. He argued that a government's legitimacy stems from the consent of the people they govern. Locke's social contract theory, outlined in his "Two Treatises of Government", held that a government should serve and protect all members of society, acting only with the "consent of the governed". This theory influenced the Founding Fathers' understanding of the role of government and the rights of citizens.
Hobbes, on the other hand, advocated for a strong central government and believed in the concept of absolute sovereignty. In his view, the State of Nature, or the human condition before the development of civilization, was a state of war—anarchic and violent. He argued that the formation of a state was necessary to stem this cycle of violence, with individuals surrendering some of their rights to a stronger power. Hobbes' ideas contributed to the Founding Fathers' understanding of the necessity for a strong central government and the importance of social order.
Both Locke and Hobbes were instrumental in developing the social contract theory, which holds that there is an underlying agreement between the government and its citizens, defining the rights and responsibilities of each party. This theory influenced the Founding Fathers' belief in the importance of a contract between the government and the governed, with the government deriving its power from the people.
While Locke's ideas on natural rights and limited government had a more direct influence on the Constitution, Hobbes' concepts of a social contract and the need for a strong central government also shaped the Founding Fathers' thinking. The Founding Fathers, facing the challenges of establishing a new nation and creating a system of government to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens, found inspiration in the philosophies of Locke and Hobbes. They drew on these ideas to shape their understanding of governance and the role of government in serving and protecting its citizens.
Constitution Framers and Their Stance on Slavery
You may want to see also
The State of Nature
The English philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were both social contract theorists, and their views on the state of nature are essential to understanding their theories. The state of nature refers to the hypothetical condition of human beings before or without political association.
Hobbes' View of the State of Nature
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) had a negative view of human nature and believed that the state of nature was a state of war, or a "war of all against all". In this state, there is no civil authority, and each individual has a natural right to everything, regardless of the interests of others. This leads to a constant struggle over limited power and resources, and a life that is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short". Hobbes believed that the only laws that exist in the state of nature are the laws of nature, which are based on self-preservation. Without a higher authority to adjudicate disputes, everyone fears and mistrusts everyone else, and there can be no justice, commerce, or culture.
Hobbes argued that the state of nature exists at all times between independent countries, and this view helped shape theories of international law and relations. He believed that once a civil government is instituted, the state of nature disappears between individuals because of the power of the government to enforce contracts and laws. However, between nations, there is no such power, and nations have the same rights to preserve themselves, including making war.
Locke's View of the State of Nature
John Locke (1632-1704) had a more positive view of human nature and believed that the state of nature was characterized by human freedom and equality. In his view, the state of nature and civil society are opposites, and the need for civil society arises from the perpetual existence of the state of nature. Locke's view was partly influenced by Christian belief, which distinguishes him from Hobbes, whose philosophy is not dependent on theology.
Locke's "law of nature" holds that no one ought to harm another in their life, liberty, or property. He believed that individuals have a moral duty and rational interest to preserve their rights, but he also recognized that conflicts arise when these rights are violated. In the state of nature, there is a lack of impartial justice, as both parties in a conflict are too biased and personally invested to offer an objective viewpoint. Therefore, they consent to allow a third party to mediate and agree to abide by that verdict.
Influence on the Constitution
Both Hobbes and Locke were instrumental in developing the concept of the social contract, which holds that government arises from an agreement among individuals to relinquish their natural rights and transfer their sovereignty to a higher civil authority. Locke believed that this authority should be a constitutional government that ruled through the consent of the governed and popular sovereignty. He argued that the power of the government is limited to the public good and exists only to protect people from infringements on their rights.
While Hobbes also recognized the importance of consent, he preferred a government headed by an absolute monarch with hereditary rulers and absolute authority. He argued that anarchy would result from a lack of powerful central authority, and mankind would revert to the state of nature. The founders of the American Constitution rejected this assertion, favoring the ideas of Locke.
Understanding Board Fees: Trade or Business?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
John Locke's ideas on natural rights and limited government influenced the Founding Fathers and are reflected in the US Constitution. Locke believed that people are entitled to certain fundamental rights, such as life, liberty, and property, and that the government exists to protect those rights.
Thomas Hobbes's concepts of a social contract and sovereignty have had an indirect influence on the US Constitution. Hobbes believed that people needed to surrender some of their rights for a strong central government.
Locke and Hobbes had opposing views on the most effective form of government for society. Locke favoured a more open approach to state-building and believed that a government's legitimacy came from the consent of the people they governed. Hobbes, on the other hand, was a proponent of Absolutism, where control of the state was placed in the hands of a single individual, free from limitations or accountability.
