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Rousseau Vs Hobbes

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During the Constitutional Period of the United States, America’s governmental system underwent a long journey of development and growth. Even in the country’s first stages of development, many factors such as taxation and civil liberties played a large role in America’s drive for independence from Britain and the establishment of a separate government. Not only this, but the ideals of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Charles de Montesquieu were able to influence the American people and form of government. However, it is also important to recognize the imperfections of America’s first form of government, the Articles of Confederation, and how both the ratification and the Constitutional Convention were necessary to the overall …show more content…

For example, Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher who wrote Leviathan, argued that because people live in a “war of all against all,” an absolute government with a supreme ruler was needed to keep everyone in line. Without an absolute monarch, Hobbes believed that the state of nature would only result in complete chaos and violence. Locke, on the other hand, argued against powerful kings and believed that popular consent and majority rule were essential parts of a government. Although people can exist in a state of nature with any ruler, Locke believed that the human desire for self preservation and property will result in a longing for government and stability. Not only this, but Locke believed that the duty of the government is to respect and protect the rights of life, liberty, and property. However, Locke did not believe in an all-powerful government and believed that the government should separate its powers with competing legislative and executive branches. Although these two views are conflicting, both Hobbes and Locke were able to articulate both the advantages and disadvantages of an all powerful government. Because of the oppression that the colonists were feeling under Britain, the words of Locke greatly influenced their governments beliefs and increased the

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Thomas Hobbes had the view of Democratic government. The Democratic government that we as the United States use is led by a single man the president who is advised by his cabinet in decisions he makes. John Locke wanted all men to have the same right. To be

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John Locke was a philosopher and political scientist. He had many interests and produced a number of writings that influenced future leaders. One of these leaders was Thomas Jefferson, who was involved with the aid of America and the act gaining independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence and Locke’s views on government contain many similar aspects. These ideas includes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (natural rights); the protection that is provided by the government for these rights; and the altering or abolishment of government if it fails to provide and protect the rights of the people.

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One his theories, stated in his book called Leviathan said that people are not able rule themselves because of how selfish mankind is and they need to be ruled by an iron fist. His political theory was that was also stated in Leviathan was that we should respect government authority under all circumstances to avoid violence. Hobbes was scared of the outcome of the social contract which meant people could get rid of the government if they were unhappy with what they were getting. In order to make well with the social contract he states in Leviathan that people should be completely obedient to the government. His reasoning was that if there was no government, there would be chaos.

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Hobbes produced a book in 1651 entitled leviathan, highlighting the dangers of life without a Government. believed that absolute monarchy would be the best form of Government as without Government, the people will display violence and disorder which comes naturally to them and for this reason, a social contract would be the best way to maintain order and security of the people. John Locke's ideas were used across the world and famously used in the American Revolution for independence from Britain. Locke believed in the concept of social contract but he also believed that as part of natural rights (given to each human from birth).In his book entitled Two Treaties on Government, he illustrates his belief that the Government is merely present to ensure the protection of natural rights. As part of this, he believes that the people are the main source of power so the Government's power is limited.

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When comparing the two different accounts of English philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke we must take into consideration a number of things such as the age in which they lived and the time in which they produced their philosophical writings. We will however find out that these two philosophers actually have a couple of things in which agree on even though most of their opinions clash. On one side we have Thomas Hobbes who lived in the time of the English Civil War (1642-1651) who provides a negative framework for his philosophical opinions in his masterpiece Leviathan and who advocates for philosophical absolutism . On the other side we have John Locke, living during the glorious revolution (1688-1689) he presents a positive attitude in his book The Second Treatise of Government and advocates for philosophical and biblical constitutionalism. It is important that we know that the state of nature describes a pre- political society prior to the social contract.

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes, two titans of the Enlightenment, work within similar intellectual frameworks in their seminal writings. Hobbes, in Leviathan, postulates a “state of nature” before society developed, using it as a tool to analyze the emergence of governing institutions. Rousseau borrows this conceit in Discourse on Inequality, tracing the development of man from a primitive state to modern society. Hobbes contends that man is equal in conflict during the state of nature and then remains equal under government due to the ruler’s monopoly on authority. Rousseau, meanwhile, believes that man is equal in harmony in the state of nature and then unequal in developed society.

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Thomas Hobbes proposed that the ideal government should be an absolute monarchy as a direct result of experiencing the English Civil War, in which there was internal conflict between the parliamentarians and the royalists. Hobbes made this claim under the assumption that an absolute monarchy would produce consistent policies, reduce conflicts and lower the risk of civil wars due to the singular nature of this ruling system. On another hand, John Locke counters this proposal with the view that absolute monarchies are not legitimate as they are inconsistent with the state of nature. These two diametrically opposed views stem from Hobbes’ and Locke’s different understandings of human nature, namely with regard to power relationships, punishment, and equality in the state of nature. Hobbes’ belief that human beings are selfish and appetitive is antithetical with Locke’s contention that human beings are intrinsically moral even in the state of nature, which results in Locke’s strong disagreement with Hobbes’ proposed absolute monarchy.

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