Two major authorities that go side by side regarding the social contract theory are thomas hobbes and john locke. Thomas hobbes 15881679, a british, empiricist philosopher, described his theory of state and the social contract theory in his notable work, leviathan 1651. All other natural law theorists assumed that man was by nature a social animal. The most basic difference is that for hobbes the contract to create the government or sovereign is what makes the society exists in the first place, whereas it is precisely a rousseaus critique of hobbes that a society can exist and exists befo.
The state of nature is a concept used in political philosophy by most enlightenment philosophers, such as thomas hobbes and john locke. Then the paper points out the state of nature according to hobbes, locke and rousseau. His object was to defend the absolute power of the monarch and he used the doctrine of the social contract to support it. Political theory in the 17th century, according to many historians and philosophers, experienced a similar rift. The social contract theory was the creation of hobbes who created the idea of a social contract theory, which locke and rousseau built upon. Comparing and contrasting thomas hobbes and john locke. Their theories stem from their dissenting opinions about who should be the center of government. Differences between the locke and hobbes philosophy. Social contract according to him, prior to social contract, man lived in the state of nature. According to him, prior to social contract, man lived in the state of nature. Locke and hobbes both share a vision of the social contract as instrumental in a states political stability. Thomas hobbes social contract theory essay 895 words. John locke the english philosopher john locke was a contemporary with thomas hobbes but somewhat younger. Compare and contrast hobbes and john locke social contract.
They both are in favor of a popular contract or constitution, which is where the people give the power to govern to their government. Thomas hobbes, legal theory is based on social contract. Thomas hobbes, james harrington, john locke, and jean jacques rousseau developed the theory. Politics political theory and the history of ideas journal. Summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke and. The most influential socialcontract theorists were the 17th18th century philosophers thomas hobbes, john locke, and jeanjacques rousseau. The social contract theory was later supported and interpreted further by john locke. Historical context english revolution paint a picture of the world at the time, the religious context describe the politics of europeengland, where hobbes and locke fit in the picture section 3.
Thomas hobbes was the first person to come up with the idea of a social contract in his text, leviathan. The social contract theories of thomas hobbes and john locke 1210 words 5 pages. Hobbes believed there should be a monarch, while locke supported parliament. Thomas hobbes was an english philosopher from malmesbury. The classical social contract theories of hobbes, locke and rousseau compared. Comparing the social contracts of hobbes and locke murdoch. The paper will show the basic differences between the two philosophers views, is hobbes distrust of the people and locke s relatively greater trust of the people and distrust of the government s power and the likelihood of the abuse of that power. Locke versus hobbes thomas hobbes 15881679 the leviathan 1651 is the most. John locke and thomas hobbes accounts of the state of nature differ greatly with regards to individual security. The classical social contract theorists represent one of the two or three most important modern traditions in political thought. However, they are both completely different in terms of their stand and conclusions in several laws of nature. Key differences between locke s philosophy and hobbes lock believes that man is a social animal by nature, whereas hobbes asserts that man is not naturally social, but submits himself to the state in exchange for protection.
Social contract theory is the view that moral andor political duties depend on a contract that leads to the formation of a civil society. Thomas hobbes theory of social contract appeared for the first time in leviathan published in the year 1651 during the civil war in britain. Government exists because it is generally preferable to the alternative, anarchy, which is the absence of government. The family and social contract theory springerlink. It is a useful reference text for political philosophers and a nice. Pdf social contract theory of john locke 19321704 in.
The state of nature is a representation of human existence prior to the existence of society understood in a more contemporary sense. However, their respective philosophies were informed by a starkly contrasting vision of human nature. Locke, however, views man in a nicer light by countering that since we are governed by natural laws that come from a creator, then there also follows that there are rights that come from this being as well. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. It also put forth the differences of opinion of these jurists of the state of nature with regard to social contract and lastly the critical apprehension of the theory of social contract given by. Locke, rousseau and the social contract theory duration. Social contract theorists still shaping todays administrative state when most hear the term natural law, their minds immediately wander back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Analysis of the theory of social contract by thomas hobbes thomas hobbes theory of social contract appeared for the first time in leviathan published in the year 1651 during the civil war in britain. Contemporary approaches to the social contract stanford. Nature of man, state of nature and social contract john locke vs. Locke felt that mankinds natural state was of freedom and individuals entered into a contract with other people to ensure that freedom. Hobbes, on the other hand, man surrenders his freedom in exchange for security and that he obeys the social contract to be safe.
Compare and contrast thomas hobbes and john locke 1241. The comparison of thomas hobbes, john locke, and jean jacques rousseau and the social contract theory. In the comparison of thomas hobbes, john locke, and jean jacques rousseau and their respective ideas of the social contract i would like to begin by breaking down what the social contract is and all its encompassing ideas. Democracy has its advantages but many disadvantages. The ideas expressed by thomas jefferson in the declaration of independence were very heavily influenced by locke, who was in turn influenced by hobbes. Locke and hobbes were both social contract theorists, and both natural law theorists natural law in the sense of saint thomas aquinas, not natural law in the sense of newton, but there the resemblance ends.
The 17th century period was marked by an attempt to erect effective safeguard against violations of natural law by governments. This leviathan is the state whether in the form of an absolute monarch or a democratic. Both present a stateless scenario but draw completely different conclusions, with inhabitants of locke s state of nature having greater security than those in hobbes. Thomas hobbes and john locke nature of man state of nature social contract theory. Locke recognized the existence of 3 powers in the civil society or the state. Hobbes himself defined the idea of the social contract as the mutual transfer of right to achieve security and safety. Thomas hobbes and john locke nature of man state of nature social contract theory slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. John locke theory of social contract is different than that of hobbes. At the time of writing, hobbes was witnessing firsthand, the english civil war, and this. Key players in social contract theory thomas hobbes 15881679. Thomas hobbes discussed and developed the social contract theory through his book leviathan. The concept of social contract theory is that before civilization man lived in the state of nature in its purest form. The idea of the social contract goes back at least to epicurus thrasher 20. The classic social contract theorists of the 17th and 18th centuries thomas hobbes 15881679, john locke 16321704, and jeanjacques rousseau 171278held that the social contract is the means by which civilized society, including government.
Difference between locke and hobbes difference between. The basis of early social contract theories the concept of a social contract started with the greek philosopher socrates. After kant, the idea largely fell into disrepute until it was resurrected by john rawls. Concisely, hobbes s social contract is a method of trading liberty for safety. Locke s theory is thus no more historical than hobbes. The concept of social contract is and has been used to evaluate the political relationship between leaders and rulers over the ages. Analysis of the theory of social contract by thomas hobbes. While both thomas hobbes and john locke believed that people naturally form governments, their reasoning for why this occurs differs. John locke s social contract theories differed in one key aspect from others. Arnold political philosophy 4 february 2015 compare and contrast the social contract theories of thomas hobbes and john locke in the beginning of.
The benefits of organizing society under centralized authority almost always outweigh the costs. Citizens give up some of our individual freedom and submit to the rules and regulations of the society in order to benefit from the security and privilege afforded by the society. The political philosophies of thomas hobbes and john locke. Research the positions of thomas hobbes and john locke on. There is nothing in a persons mind, which has not already been in the senses, he wrote.
However, they had opposing views on almost every political issue. In this book he gave a striking exposition of the theory of social contract. Thomas hobbes leviathan social contract theory by thomas. Thomas hobbes and john locke were the two most influential political theorists of their time. John locke did not believe that human nature is as cruel as hobbes believed. This rich collection will introduce students of philosophy and politics to the. They both are in favor of a popular contract or constitution. Social contract, in political philosophy, an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each. Available on compatible nook devices and the free nook apps.
John locke also proposes that the government obtains its authority via social contract. The social contract theory is the theoretical foundation that underlies all modern forms of government and constitutionalism. Thomas hobbes and john locke both have made contributions to modern political science and they both had similar views on where power lies in a society. Gutenberg ebook of two treatises of government by john locke. What are the key differences between the social theories. Comparison of social contract theory among hobbes, locke. According to the philosopher thomas hobbes, the life of humans in the state of nature is nasty, brutish, and short. This theory which was important to the two philosophers explains the relationship between the state and the individual. Pdf summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke. It discusses what is the social contract theory and the reason. Hobbes, locke, rousseau and the social contract theory.
285 773 833 851 589 1287 1011 256 1405 206 138 1124 1265 1239 715 1120 1289 631 612 626 1427 831 748 751 10 1038 1423 676 1488 102 794 466 445 315 964 320 1148 155 1115 347 842