Hobbes, Locke and the State of Nature

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that both Hobbes's "Leviathan" and Locke's "Second Treatise of Government" were written in England during times of political unrest and that both works take a broad and critical look at political systems and society. The paper further relates that both men believed that in order to properly understand politics in a society, man must first be studied in the state of nature, a time before structured society. The paper then explains that both Hobbes and Locke created their own hypothetical states of nature and theorized on what motivates the behavior of men in this state. In addition, the paper looks at how each philosopher defends opposing theories on men in a state of nature and concludes that, while these perspectives may be very different, the truth may lie somewhere in between.

Outline:
Introduction
Ideas of Thomas Hobbes
Ideas of John Locke
Analysis and Validity of Ideas
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"While both Hobbes and Locke make very convincing arguments on the state of nature, I believe the actual truth falls somewhere in between. Both thinkers seem to approach the subject with a preconceived notion of man, and then attempt to create a hypothetical state of nature in which this type of man would fit. To best understand man in a state of nature, we must first look towards wildlife in its own state of nature. Humans are, of course, the most complex of creatures, but there are still other animals that live in a state of individual self-preservation and in a community. Primates, in particular chimpanzees, are one of the smartest and most human-like animals of the world. Chimpanzees live in a community together and interact on a constant basis. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. Ed. Edwin Curley. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company, 1994.
• Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. Ed. C.B. Macpherson. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company. 1980.

More papers on Hobbes, Locke and the State of Nature:

• Argumentative Essay # 97283 : "Hobbes, Locke and the Birth of Political Freedom"
• Analytical Essay # 122158 : "From the State of Nature to the Social Contract"
• Essay # 137661 : "Contrasting the Natural State of War in the Governing Principles of Rousseau, Hobbes, and Locke "

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: