Locke, Rousseau, and Hobbes
Q: What do the political philosophers Locke, Rousseau, and Hobbes have to say about why people form government? What do they say about sovereignty, power, legitimacy, and interdependence? Do you agree with their theories? How would YOU establish government?
Locke: Locke agreed with Hobbes that human nature allowed people to be selfish, however he disagreed with Hobbes two major points. Locke believed that life, liberty, and property is something that should never be taken away by anyone. He believed that those rights were “inalienable.” Locke believe that property was the most important right. He said that government was mainly necessary to show “public good.” Locke also believed that Hobbes social contract was not just an agreement among the people but between the people and the sovereign/king. Locke’s Two Treaties of Government, was used in the Declaration of Independence. Overall, Locke believe that the natural rights of individuals Restricted the power of the king. The king did not have absolute power, but acted only to enforce and protect the natural rights of the citizens.
Rousseau: In contrast to Locke, Rousseau believed that people in the state of nature were innocent and their best selves. He believed that people were corrupted by civilization. Rousseau believed that the social contract was not a willing agreement, but instead was fraudulence against people who committed by the rich. in 1762 Russo published his most important work, The Social Contract. In this contract, Rousseau agrees with log that a person should never be forced to give up his or her natural rights to a king. He believed that when giving up rights it should not be for the king but for the whole community and our people. He called the people that sovereign instead of the king being called the sovereign. Rousseau believed that political power must be vested in the people who exercise their general well. Rousseau is the political figure who I most identify with because he believes that giving power to the people is important in a government system and the creation of laws on for the better and make a stronger government.
Hobbes: Hobbes ideas were very different from Rousseau and Lockes ideas. he described the state of nature as something where all the visuals were equal. He believed that every person was free to do whatever they needed to do in order to survive. this idea however, was not great because everyone would suffer from fear or death in order to keep themselves from harm. Hobbes vouched for the people to give up their natural rights of equality and freedom and give absolute power to the sovereign. The sovereign would be a group of people for a person who enforce laws to secure a peaceful society. However giving up your rights to a higher power is not as well planned out and better for the people, compared to the ideas of Locke and Rousseau. Hobbes believed that a government that was ruled by a king would be the best form that the sovereign could manage. Giving all power to a king would result in a more consistent political authority. Hobbes ideas makes sense, however people in his society would not be given as much freedom or quality than that of Rousseau or Locke’s society.
My government: If I was able to establish a government, I would pull from Rousseau’s ideas. I believe that it is the peoples right to choose who they are in the hands of. However, I would extend the amount of time a president was in the house, four years is not enough time for someone to establish laws and see the outcome.
https://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-2-c-hobbes-locke-montesquieu-and-rousseau-on-government.html
Locke: Locke agreed with Hobbes that human nature allowed people to be selfish, however he disagreed with Hobbes two major points. Locke believed that life, liberty, and property is something that should never be taken away by anyone. He believed that those rights were “inalienable.” Locke believe that property was the most important right. He said that government was mainly necessary to show “public good.” Locke also believed that Hobbes social contract was not just an agreement among the people but between the people and the sovereign/king. Locke’s Two Treaties of Government, was used in the Declaration of Independence. Overall, Locke believe that the natural rights of individuals Restricted the power of the king. The king did not have absolute power, but acted only to enforce and protect the natural rights of the citizens.
Rousseau: In contrast to Locke, Rousseau believed that people in the state of nature were innocent and their best selves. He believed that people were corrupted by civilization. Rousseau believed that the social contract was not a willing agreement, but instead was fraudulence against people who committed by the rich. in 1762 Russo published his most important work, The Social Contract. In this contract, Rousseau agrees with log that a person should never be forced to give up his or her natural rights to a king. He believed that when giving up rights it should not be for the king but for the whole community and our people. He called the people that sovereign instead of the king being called the sovereign. Rousseau believed that political power must be vested in the people who exercise their general well. Rousseau is the political figure who I most identify with because he believes that giving power to the people is important in a government system and the creation of laws on for the better and make a stronger government.
Hobbes: Hobbes ideas were very different from Rousseau and Lockes ideas. he described the state of nature as something where all the visuals were equal. He believed that every person was free to do whatever they needed to do in order to survive. this idea however, was not great because everyone would suffer from fear or death in order to keep themselves from harm. Hobbes vouched for the people to give up their natural rights of equality and freedom and give absolute power to the sovereign. The sovereign would be a group of people for a person who enforce laws to secure a peaceful society. However giving up your rights to a higher power is not as well planned out and better for the people, compared to the ideas of Locke and Rousseau. Hobbes believed that a government that was ruled by a king would be the best form that the sovereign could manage. Giving all power to a king would result in a more consistent political authority. Hobbes ideas makes sense, however people in his society would not be given as much freedom or quality than that of Rousseau or Locke’s society.
My government: If I was able to establish a government, I would pull from Rousseau’s ideas. I believe that it is the peoples right to choose who they are in the hands of. However, I would extend the amount of time a president was in the house, four years is not enough time for someone to establish laws and see the outcome.
https://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-2-c-hobbes-locke-montesquieu-and-rousseau-on-government.html
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