The Differences Between Hobbes and Locke
John Locke and Thomas Hobbes Had A Conflict of Political Opinion
Oct 5, 2009
While both Thomas Hobbes and John Locke contributed a great deal to political philosophy, they were far from agreeing with one another on some of the more important ideas that surround politics.
Locke and Hobbes primary point of contention surrounded whether there should be an absolute ruler and the same laws for everyone, or whether there should be a more open, tolerant state of being.
The Political Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes
One of the main points of the political theory of Thomas Hobbes was the "social contract theory." He used this theory to come to the conclusion that everyone should submit to an absolute and sovereign power without question, and that it would benefit everyone to do so. He also dealt with moral philosophy to some degree, but he was not as influential in this area as he was with his political philosophy.
The methodologies that he created, however, had a strong impact on the political philosophies that were created at a later date. Hobbes also talked about a "state of nature," in which there would be no laws or government, and that it should be the baseline against which all political ideals and participants were judged.
Hobbes believed that this kind of state was a bad idea, because there would be no safety and security for people, and the result would be chaos for the world. Even though Hobbes had theories and beliefs on many subjects, his political theories were the most significant and are still studied today in order to determine the depth of his understanding and beliefs.
John Locke's Political Philosophy
John Locke, who was a near descendant of Hobbes, differed most strongly in his political opinions and indicated that the "state of nature" of which Hobbes talked would be preferable to having a sovereign government or absolute ruler and therefore be subjected to the whims and ideas of that person. Locke was not anti-political, but he did not share Hobbes' belief that having one ruler and therefore establishing one set of rules and laws for everyone to follow would be the best thing for all people.
He believed that the "state of nature" of which Hobbes spoke would allow for happiness and tolerance, and that no one would bother the possessions or rights of others. By living in this kind of state, all people would truly be equal and independent, and there would be no need for laws or government because of the strong sense of respect and moral duty that people would have toward one another.
Whether these people would actually have that kind of moral duty to others is something that other philosophers such as Plato have wrestled with, and that has been addressed in other philosophical and religious traditions such as Buddhism. Information online and in texts discuss the issue and show how these kinds of questions shape and define today's society.
Hobbes and Locke Resources
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