1. Thomas Hobbes & the Social Contract
Hobbes held a pessimistic opinion about human nature
Why?
After the bloody English Revolution, he considered “the people” wicked, selfish and greedy
By nature, life was bleak, filled with war, strife and suffering.

2. What did Hobbes say was the solution?
Social Contract: An agreement by which people acted in their own self interest to be governed by strong leaders.
The People willingly hand over their rights in order to live in a society of law & order.
The ruler would need total power to keep citizens under control.
The best government had the power of a leviathan. Also the name of his book.

3. At that time, the best ruler was an absolute monarch, to maintain order and demand obedience.

4. Strong Leaders

5. “It’s for your own good!!”
Hobbes & Democracy
The connection between the two is that the people create their own government…………..
For their own benefit.
For the good of the people, to preserve law and order, there must be strict leadership.
To avoid war, chaos and conflict.
“It’s for your own good!!”

6. John Locke and Natural Rights
Mr. Locke had a more optimistic view of human nature.
People could learn from their experiences and improve themselves..
Tabula rasa = Humans are born with blank slates, and are open to create their own stories: nurture not nature.
We are an accumulation of knowledge.

7. Locke’s Theories All people are born free and equal.
Three Natural Rights:
Life
Liberty
Property
The purpose of gov’t is to protect these rights.
If the gov’t fails to protect these rights, the people have the right to overthrow the gov’t.

8. Locke & Democracy
The idea that governments power comes from the consent of the people is the foundation of modern democracy.
Government by popular consent (by vote)
Right to rebel against unjust rulers
Inspired struggles for liberty in both Europe and the Americas.