In Today's politics, natural events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes are becoming increasingly important, because of their seeming ability to reintroduce some aspects of Hobbes’ and Locke’s theories of the state of nature to our contemporary lives. Locke believes that man by nature is a social animal; however Hobbes believes man is not by nature a social animal and society could not exist except by the power of the state. This paper discusses the differences between these two political philosophers and further solidifies Hobbes' view that by nature we are not social animals.
To begin with, Locke and Hobbes have very different political theories. Locke’s political philosophy is seen as more optimistic than Hobbes. He believes that people are by nature
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Locke defines political power as the right to make laws for the protection and regulation of property, he says these laws only work because the people accept them, and they are for public good. He believes that people could be trusted to govern themselves through democracy. Locke says that rule by a majority is the best way to decide laws and that there are three elements necessary elements for civil society: a known law, a known and indifferent judge, and the power to support such judgments. He says that the government should have different branches with a strong legislative body and a strong executive who does not overstep its power. Locke says that the purpose of the government is to protect individual liberties and rights, he also says that people have the right to revolt against an abusive government. He says that those in society are allowed to dissolve the current system and reform the legislative and create a new state that works in their best interest, he says that this prevents revolts because it allows people to change their