Hobbes vs Locke on Natural Rig
Thomas Hobbes, author of Leviathan, claims that peace and unity can best be achieved by setting up a society by having humans agree to a covenant (Hobbes: Ch.18 pg.548). A sovereign who is in charge of protecting the society or state rules Hobbes's society. In his introduction, Hobbes describes this commonwealth as an "artificial person" and as a body politic that mimics the human body. Hobbes portrays the state as a gigantic human form built out of the bodies of its members, the sovereign as its head (Hobbes: Introduction pg.492). Hobbes calls this figure the "Leviathan," which means "sea monster" in Hebrew and is the name of a monstrous sea creature appearing in the Bible. Hobbes tries to prove that a sovereign is necessary for preserving peace.John Locke, author of Second Treatise of Government, places sovereignty into the hands of the people. Locke claims that people are equal and has natural rights in a state of nature where they are free from outside rule. In the state of nature, people have the right to judge someone and execute the law against someone who violates their rights. People take what they need from the earth but usually take more than they need. Then they develop a common currency in order to trade their ext
Locke and Hobbes differ on a couple of points concerning natural rights and the society, According to Locke a person has no right to destroy oneself but if the person's life is threaten then the person has the right to judge and punish the other. Hobbes claims that punishment is allowable in a society and in nature for those who have violated a law. Hobbes believes that natural rights/laws have nothing to do with divinity just reason. On the other hand, according to Locke natural rights have to do with some reason and with God's revelation (Locke: Ch.2 S8 pg. 627). According to John Locke, human beings all have the same natural rights; all people are equal in nature (Locke: Ch.2 S4 pg.626). Everyone has the right to self-preservation. People know they have that right by using reason and listen to God's revelation. People have the right to judge and punish people (Locke: Ch.2 S8 pg.627). Locke claims that nobody has the right to destroy oneself (Locke: Ch.2 S7 pg.627). It is possible to have natural rights before people enter a society. Hobbes defines natural rights with three natural laws. He claims that natural law is used so that people know what to do so that they do not compromise their own reason. Hobbes does not believe that divinity has anything to do with natural law or rights. The first natural law (Hobbes: Ch.14 pg. 534) is that everyone should be peaceful but if one has to go into war to get peace then they should go into war. The second natural law (Hobbes: Ch.14 pg. 534) is derived from the first natural law. It states that a human has the right to self-preservation by defending oneself even if it means going to war. As long as humans are protecting themselves and as all as they want to attain
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Approximate Word count = 1160
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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