Hobbes
One of Hobbes' most famous books
What is Leviathan?
Name one of Lockes most famous books
What is Two Treatises of Government? Locke explains why government is necessary and how people can rebel if their government is no longer protecting the people's natural rights.
Who said this quote? "...no Society; and which is worst of all, continuall feare, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short."
Thomas Hobbes said this quote on page 102 of the Leviathan when he was describing what life would be like without a government. He thought that people would be always scared for their lives if there was no government to protect their natural rights and anyone could do whatever they wanted.
What is a state of nature?
A state of nature refers to the natural state of people without any government or laws to regulate them. This is important because iHobbes and Locke use their interpretations of states of nature to show why they think government is necessary.
The era/period that thinkers Hobbes and Locke were apart of.
The Enlightenment
What Hobbes thought about social contract.
Hobbes thought that social contract which could only be achieved from government was the only thing that would save people from themselves and make society peaceful. Hobbes thought that when people engaged in society they are "signing" a social contract in which people would let their ruler create and enforce laws and the citizens would follow them.
What did Locke have a big emphasis on and he thought that government was created to protect this?
A person's right to property. Locke mentions multiple times how people's property is one of the defining things that they hold most valuable to them. Locke also emphasized property because he thought that the invasion of someone's property was the worst thing you could do to someone. Locke thought that so many people defined themselves based on their property, so he thought it was especially important to protect using the government.
Who said this quote? "Wherever law ends, tyranny begins, if the law be transgressed to another’s harm; and whosoever in authority exceeds the power given him by the law, and makes use of the force he has under his command, to compass that upon the subject which the law allows not, ceases in that to be a magistrate; and, acting without authority, may be opposed as any other man who by force invades the right of another"
Who is John Locke? John Locke said this quote when trying to explain that a magistrate should not abuse their power and if they do, they are not a truly good ruler. He says this on page 189 of the Second Treatise.
What does Hobbes think that the world would look like without government (natural state)?
Hobbes thinks that a world without government would be chaotic. He thinks that since people are driven by their natural instincts and everyone will try to preserve themselves/act selfishly. He thinks that a government is necessary so that people will not have to live in a state of distrust of others/self preservation.
Hobbes thought that this was the best form of government.
What is an absolute monarchy? Hobbes thought that having one ruler who has all of the power would be best because it would keep people from acting selfishly and chaotically. Hobbes thought that giving all of the power to one person would make for an absolute authority figure that people would respect and listen to.
What was Hobbes' favorite type of dog?
Tried to find an answer for this one, but couldn't so its an automatic 300 points!
Absolute arbitrary power according to Locke?
What is power that is unlimited and unchecked power that a ruler can have if there is no government to restrict them. Locke thinks that this kind of power is threatening because it can infringe on citizen's rights.
Who said this quote? "...whenever the legislators endeavour to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience, and are left to the common refuge, which God hath provided for all men, against force and violence."
John Locke said this quote when he was talking about how if a legislator does not protect people's property and abuses their power, they are going to make the people angry at the government. He said this quote on page 197 of the Second Treatise.
What does Locke think that the world would look like without a government (natural state)?
Locke thinks that the people are somewhat rational in their natural state, but he still thinks that a government is needed in order for people to protect their natural rights. Locke also acknowledges that people would infringe on others rights if there was no government.
The type of government Locke thinks would bring prosperity.
Locke thinks that a government where people have consent and input in their government is the best form. Locke thinks that government should exist to protect rights, so Locke does not think that having an absolute monarch would be good because he thinks the monarch would abuse their power.
Did Hobbes think that the people had the right to rebel if they thought their rights were being taken away?
No, Hobbes did not think like Locke in this way. Since Hobbes believed in absolute monarchy, he thought that people should listen to everything that the ruler said even if they might be taking away certain rights. He thought that the ruler's power should not be limited and he thought that by people being able to rebel that would limit the ruler's power.
Did Locke's ideas help form the government that we have in the United States?
Yes, to some extent because Locke thought that it was necessary for there to be consent of the people in government. The democracy we have today is all about consent of the government because we vote on who is the President and we vote on members of the other branches of government.
Who said this? "...It followeth, that in such a condition, every man has a Right to every thing; even to one anothers body. And therefore, as long as this naturall Right of every man to every thing endureth, there can be no security to any man, (how strong or wise soever he be,) of living out the time, 10 which Nature ordinarily alloweth men to live."
Which thinker thought that we would live in a state of war without government?
Hobbes thought this. Hobbes thought that people would be so focused on self-preservation if people were left to their own devices that there would be constant fighting because people would be taking things from others to survive.
What did Hobbes and Locke both think was necessary in order for society to flourish?
Hobbes and Locke both thought that a government was necessary in order for society to flourish because although they did not necessarily agree on what type of government, they both agreed that humans needed some structure in order for society to prosper. They also both thought that people needed to form their own government and the people needed to agree to form a government so that it would be successful.
What did Hobbes mean when he said this quote, "Nature hath made men so equall, in the faculties of body, and mind; as that though there bee found one man sometimes manifestly 15 stronger in body, or of quicker mind then another; yet when all is reckoned together, the difference between man, and man, is not so considerable, as that one man can thereupon claim to himselfe any benefit, to which another may not pretend, as well as he." (Leviathan 99)
Hobbes thinks that all men are created equally and even if some are stronger and some are smart than others, no one can dominate another person completely. Hobbes thinks that because everyone is created equally, that is why there is competition because it is natural to want to be better at something than someone else.
What does Locke mean by this quote, "And if those, who by force take away the legislative, are rebels, the legislators themselves, as has been shown, can be no less esteemed so; when they, who were set up for the protection and preservation of the people, their liberties and properties, shall by force invade and endeavour to take them away; and so they putting themselves into a state of war with those who made them the protectors and guardians of their peace, are properly, and with the greatest aggravation, rebellantes, rebels" (Second Treatise 200)
Locke is saying that if the government infringes on people's rights they are putting themselves in a state of war with the people. He is saying that rulers can be rebels if they do not protect their citizens right to freedom and property.
Who said this quote? "This I am sure, whoever, either ruler or subject, by force goes about to invade the rights of either prince or people, and lays the foundation for overturning the constitution and frame of any just government, is highly guilty of the greatest crime, I think, a man is capable of; being to answer for all those mischiefs of blood, rapine, and desolation, which the breaking to pieces of governments bring on a country."
Locke says this quote on page 202 of the Second Treatise when he is talking about how the worst thing you can do is invade the rights of others and it does not matter if you are a ruler or a citizen, it is still a terrible thing. He thinks people should have to answer for infringing on the rights of others even if it is a ruler that is doing it.
Riddle: Why did John Locke break up with Thomas Hobbes?
Because Hobbes was too controlling, and Locke needed his space, liberty, and property. (found this joke on the internet and decided to include it)
What did Locke think people had the right to do if a government was failing?
Locke thought that people had the right to rebel if a government was not working out. He did make sure though to say that just because some people do not agree with how the government is making decisions, that does not mean that people have the right to rebel. People have the right to rebel if the government is infringing upon people's natural rights which Locke thought was a failing government.