Enlightenment - Hobbes & Locke

Aim: What is the difference between Hobbes and Locke’s view of government ?

Do Now: How would life in NYC be different if there was no mayor?

Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes based his theories on government on his belief that man was basically greedy, selfish, and cruel. In his book, Leviathan, Hobbes states that life would be a state of constant warfare without a strong government to control man's natural impulses. He believed people would enter into a Social Contract to escape from this. In the Social Contract, people would exchange most of their freedoms for the safety of organized society. Once people entered into this contract, there was no release. Hobbes did not believe in revolutions, and supported the idea of absolute monarchs.

Hobbes Summary

• Wrote Leviathan
• Believed in Absolute Monarchy as best form of government
• Did not believe in Revolutions
• Did not believe in Natural Rights
• Rights only came from the government

John Locke

Locke also based his theories on his assessment of human nature. However, Locke believed that people could be reasonable and moral. In his book, Two Treatises of Government, Locke explained that all men have Natural Rights, which are Life, Liberty, and Property, and that the purpose of government was to protect these rights. Furthermore, Locke states that if government did not protect these rights, and became abusive, then the people had a right to revolution. Locke supported a limited government that protected people's natural rights.

Locke Summary

• Wrote Two Treatises of Government
• Believed in Natural Rights that come from nature or God
• Those rights include: Life, Liberty (freedom), and Property
• Believed in Limited Government that protected peoples Natural Rights

Classwork & Homework

Lesson PowerPoint: Hobbes vs. Locke

Lesson Activity: Hobbes vs. Locke Graphic Organizer

Homework: Hobbes vs. Locke - The Social Contract