Compare and Contrast John Locke and Thomas Hobbes

John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were two main political philosophers during the seventeenth century. Hobbes is largely known for his writing of the “Leviathan”, and Locke for authoring "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding." Included in their essays, both men discuss the purpose and structure of government, natural law, and the characteristics of man in and out of the state of nature. The two men's opinion of man vary widely. Hobbes sees man as being evil, whereas Locke views man in a much more optimistic light. While in the state of nature and under natural law, they both agree that man is equal. However, their ideas of natural law differ greatly. Hobbes positions himself with the view ...

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describes the life of man as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short". It is obvious he does not view man in a high fashion. He also says that men cannot believe that there are others as or more wise than themselves, expressing his discontent with how selfish men are. Conversely, Locke views mankind's natural characteristics much more optimistically. He sees man to be governed by logical reason. Locke understands man to be capable individuals able to think rationally and have the desire to coexist peacefully. Hobbes and Locke disagree on mankind's natural characteristics, but dealing with natural law their degree of their disagreement grows much larger with little room for concurrence.
The main thing that Hobbes and Locke can seem to agree on, with respect to natural law, is that all men are equal in nature. According to Hobbes, this equality exists in a state of anarchy or war; in order for survival every man has a right to live and as a result to obtain anything he needs to ...

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Compare and Contrast John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. (2011, May 22). Retrieved September 23, 2018, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Compare-Contrast-John-Locke-Thomas-Hobbes/99330

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Added: 5/22/2011 07:58:01 PM
Submitted By: coolguy5726
Category: Philosophy
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1011
Pages: 4

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