Question

1. What are two similarities and two differences between Hobbes and Locke?
2. What difference between Locke and Hobbes do you think is most important? Why?

Answer 1

One of the most important similarities between Hobbes and Locke is that they both believed in state of nature and a sovereign state. This would mean that they both believed that everyone is equal in the state of nature thus, there needs to be a government in order to moderate things for people. Second important similarity is that they both believed that the primary duty of the government is to protect its citizens. This would mean that they both insisted on a social contract where the state would protect the citizens and their properties against each other and in return, the citizens would sacrifice some of their freedom.

One of the most important difference between Hobbes and Locke is that while the former believed that human nature is brutal, selfish and nasty, the latter believed that human nature is peaceful and good to one another. While Hobbes believed that the people and the state are bound together with the concept of social contract and here, the state knows what’s best for the people thus, people would surrender all their freedom, Locke suggested that social contract is an agreement between people and government where people are prevented from violating certain natural laws. The contract according to Locke is conditional and mutual.

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