Hobbes and Locke on Social Contract Theory

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Thomas Hobbes and John Locke distinguish themselves through their different approaches to social contract theory. It discusses each of their theories with regards to the monarch and examines the discrepancies between their views. The paper looks specifically how Hobbes' and Locke's views of social contract theory diverge on the subject of revolution.

From the Paper:

"Despite Hobbes's and Locke's mutual assumption that people act on reason, the two intellects diverge in their views of social contract theory on the subject of revolution. To combat Hobbes's faith in an absolute monarch, Locke first proposes that a tyrannical absolute monarchy robs its subjects of their right to property under the law of nature and so find themselves in heartier circumstances in the state of nature, in which they at least have the right to defend themselves against injustice. He then declares that any government that does not fulfill its purpose of protecting personal property no longer possesses a reason for existence and should therefore be dissolved. Finally, Hobbes and Locke differ in their definitions of a "contract." According to Locke, both the government and the citizens must uphold their ends of the agreement in order for the contract to be binding. If the government fails to preserve its citizens' right to property, its citizens are no longer obligated to authorize the government to power. Thus, under the law of nature, individuals bear the right to revolution should the government challenge the reason for which it was created."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hobbes, Thomas. The Leviathan. Bill Uzgalis, 2003. Web. 18 September 2009. < http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/hobbes/leviathan-c.html>.
• Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2008.

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