Locke Vs. Hobbes

Locke vs. Hobbes Issue Locke Hobbes Human Nature Men mostly keep their “Continual fear, and danger promises and are peaceful, of violent death; and the life good, and pleasant of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short Works Second Treatise of Leviathan Government Natural Law Humans know what is right In the state of nature people and wrong. And should be cannot know what is theirs trusted to govern themselves and what is someone else’s. Property exists solely by the will of the state Natural Rights All men have natural and Morality is for the most part unalienable rights given to merely a command by some them by a creator person or group or God, and law merely momentary will of the ruler Social Contract We give up our rights to You surrender your rights to a ourselves exact retribution for ruler in exchange for your life. crimes in return for impartial justice backed by force. We retain the right to life and liberty, and gain the right to just, impartial protection of our property Role of the Government The only important role of the Whatever the state does is state is to ensure that justice just by definition. All of is seen to be done society is a direct creation of the government and a reflection of the will of the ruler