1. ON THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
LOCKE VS HOBBES –
ON THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
John Locke
England
Thomas Hobbes
1588 – 1678
England

2. LOCKE VS HOBBES B OOK Two Treatises on Government (1690)
Leviathan (1651)

3. LOCKE VS HOBBES MOTIV ATI ON The Glorious Revolution (bloodless)
A positive version of Hobbes
Wrote to justify the Glorious Revolution
Justify removal of James II
Depressed about the beheading of Charles I in the English Civil War (1649)
He speculated about the nature of government and man

4. LOCKE VS HOBBES H UMANS ARE BORN Selfish – With a “clean slate”
Humans are motivated by self- interest and the quest for power
Natural law is kill or be killed
With a “clean slate”
Free and equal with 3 natural rights: (from God)
Life, Liberty, Property
(influences Jefferson)

5. LOCKE VS HOBBES FAMOUS QUOTE
“All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.”
“Without government, life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

6. LOCKE VS HOBBES ROLE OF GOVT
Government exists by consent of the governed
People agree to be governed if government protects 3 natural rights
People can break the contract (revolt) if gov’t violates rights.
Humans need an absolute monarchy to keep order

7. Perspectives on Government
Locke: in article
Hobbs: in article

8. State of Nature Montesquieu: Main purpose of government??
Rousseau: vision of the ideal government??

9. Rousseau
Rousseau – Wrote the “Social Contract.” Believed that people were born good, but corrupted by the environment, bad government, and laws. He believed the best government used POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY or a vote by all of the people.

10. People of the Enlightenment
Baron de Montesquieu
Best Gov. is divided into 3 branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Checks and Balances