ipl-logo

Thomas Hobbes Research Paper

447 Words2 Pages

“It is not wisdom but authority that makes a law,” said Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes was an influential philosopher during the Age of Enlightenment, 1650 - 1800. John Locke was also a well-known philosopher during that time and he was opposed to Thomas Hobbes’s beliefs about human nature. Hobbes’s believed that humans were naturally greedy and selfish, while Locke believed they were reasonable and good. This topic has been debated for ages and is still debated today. I myself have to agree with Thomas Hobbes’s beliefs about human nature. Humanity’s true inner nature is selfish and greedy because humans have evolved with instincts and tendencies that are seen as self-serving. Thomas Hobbes believed that humans are naturally cruel, evil, and selfish. Hobbes also believed that without a functioning government, humans will reveal their true nature and survive by any means. Without laws that have been placed by a government, humans would be free to do whatever they pleased. However, Hobbes also believed that a government was established to control the true nature of humans. …show more content…

Locke believed that humans were fair and good, which contradicted Thomas Hobbes’s beliefs on human nature. John Locke also believed that a government should be present to control society. Locke stated that a government is morally just and was welcomed.
Proof of Thomas Hobbes’s beliefs can be clearly seen today. Of the 3,400 years of recorded human history, only 268 of those years have had no wars. There have been around thirty to forty wars this year alone. Humans naturally serve themselves and tend to push others down so they can climb

Show More
Related

Literary Techniques In Fly Away Peter

1018 Words | 5 Pages

The sequences of war are substantially portrayed by David Malouf within his novel Fly Away Peter. Through the use of various literary techniques and conventions, Malouf explores and incorporates the idea of peace before war, obligations and events at war, death, and the aftermath of war. The text is written in 1914, a timeless era on the Queensland coast. This was at the time of the first outbreak of World War 1, when most young men felt obligations to defend their nation in a foreign country. In the case of the protagonist, Jim Saddler, the trenches of the Armentières is where he fought for his nation in this tale of companionship and continuity.

Read More

Locke Vs Hobbes Dbq

559 Words | 3 Pages

John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were early English philosophers who each had very different views on the roles of the government and the people being governed. Their interpretations of human nature each had a lasting and vast impact on modern political science. Locke believed that men had the right to revolt against oppressive government. “‘Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.”

Read More

Locke Vs Hobbes Dbq

1208 Words | 5 Pages

Hobbes and Locke had opposing views and interpretations of men and their state of nature. Hobbes was around during the time that an absolute monarchy was the acceptable type of government for society. This was most acceptable to Hobbes because he believed that if society would leave man in his own state of nature he would be brutish. Also he believed that a government with

Read More

Locke Vs Thomas Hobbes Dbq

965 Words | 4 Pages

Hobbes believed that without a strong government, people experience continual fear and danger of violent death and lives that are solitary, poor, brutish, and short.” This quote is important because many people who are not ruled usually lead to destruction and mayhem. According to hobbes “appointing a diverse group of representatives to present the problems of the common people to the leviathan. These representatives would only have the power to present opinions, since all final decisions would be made by the leviathan.” i imagine that hobbes presumes that the citizens will take advantage of anyone who is seen as a “good” person, this idea can provide the people with a voice and still be able to make the right

Read More

Articles Of Confederation Dbq

1053 Words | 5 Pages

He believed people act selfishly, so they could not be trusted to make their own decisions. Hobbes said that the only purpose of a government was to protect people from their own evil and

Read More

The Enlightenment Dbq Essay

1016 Words | 5 Pages

Thomas Hobbes wrote a famous book, The Leviathan, that explained how he thought humans were selfish and needed the government to keep order. He supported an absolute monarchy that could not be overthrown. Baron de Montesquieu said, “ Again, there is no liberty if the power of judging be not separated from the Legislative and Executive powers,” (Doc. 4). This displays how he wanted Separation of Powers, government division to keep one individual from rising to power.

Read More

Hobbes Locke Dbq

789 Words | 4 Pages

Hobbes and locke were two philosophers who two different ideas on the world and human behavior as a whole. Hobbes mainly believed that without any form of government people will always be trying to fight for power. On the other hand, Locke believed everyone is born peaceful but can be corrupted by society. Hobbes and Locke both had very different views on different human nature, the purpose of government, and both had a big influence on many different countries.

Read More

The Enlightenment Dbq Essay

898 Words | 4 Pages

John Locke believed in a democracy and expressed that humans have the ability to govern themselves. However, Hobbes believed that humans are selfish and need a single leader(king) that should govern all affairs. Post French Revolution people lived under Hobbes theory, but wanted to become a democracy.

Read More

Thomas Hobbes Influence On Thomas Jefferson's Declaration Of Enlightenment

493 Words | 2 Pages

Some of Hobbes’ beliefs were even stated in the Declaration of Independence. For instance, his belief that people should give up their rights that lead toward violence, his wanted a government that would allow people to live in peace, and that the government should prevent violence and

Read More

How Did John Locke Influence Government

520 Words | 3 Pages

He was born in 1588, and died 1679. Throughout his life, Hobbes believed that the only true form of government was an absolute monarchy. He argued that, forcefully would be the only way to get respect from the people. He also believed in only certain people having rights. Hobbes believed in people who were born with rights that they hand over to the monarch and get protection.

Read More

Machiavelli Vs Hobbes Research Paper

624 Words | 3 Pages

Hobbes believed that natural state of humans was violent and therefore needed order and control to ensure a just and equal society (Robinson 2016, 4). However Hobbes believed that a sovereign could maintain power without deceit and manipulation. Hobbes believed in the social contract which is when people could have a moral understanding about right and wrong to avoid the chaotic violent human nature. Hobbes believed in the idea of utilitarianism which would “maximize the most good and minimize the pain” (Robinson 201, 4). This would ensure that the sovereign was doing things for the right reasons and not to better himself but to better society as a

Read More

Thomas Hobbes During The English Civil War

402 Words | 2 Pages

Thomas Hobbes was an English Philosopher who is best known for his thoughts on how people could live in peaceful unity while bypassing the dangers and fear of social conflict. This was all explained in one of the most persuasive books ever written, called Leviathan. The book focused on the evolution of society. Such as how to follow rules, become more mature, civilized citizens, and unite when in danger, instead of fighting amongst one another. This is why he wrote the book during the English Civil War (1642-1651) to influence people to open up their eyes and realize that they are one nation united and shouldn’t fight over religious disputes, but instead have a country where people are free to believe whatever religion they please.

Read More

Compare And Contrast Thomas Hobbes And John Locke

1441 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More

Thomas Hobbes Views On Human Nature

392 Words | 2 Pages

Locke’s vision of continual consent to governmental rule is much more appealing than Hobbes’s tyrant. Even though his views on human nature seem too good to be true, Locke’s philosophy is alluringly practical. If you do not agree with your government, simply leave and find another government you do agree with. Additionally, Locke’s plan protects the citizens by giving them leave to make their own decisions. Hobbes’s view is doubly flawed: his opinion on human nature forces his government to fail morally.

Read More

Thomas Hobbes Absolute Monarchy

1084 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More

More about Thomas Hobbes Research Paper

Related Topics

Open Document