17 th Century Political Philosophers

1. Social Contract Theorists 17th Century Political Philosophers Thomas Hobbes John Locke

2. A philosophical question… • What is man like in his “natural state?” • This question fascinated thinkers around the late 17th century, the high point of the Scientific Revolution. • Without any society or laws or learned behaviors… how would people act? • Do you believe it would be chaotic and warlike? Or would it be a society of people cooperating and aiming at common goals?

3. Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes • Wrote it in 1651, England • Lived through crazy time: • Born 1588, year Spanish Armada attempted to invade England • Lived through entire span of 30 Years War • Wrote Leviathan just after end of English Civil War

4. Premise of Leviathan A. Men are generally equal (strength, intelligence, etc.) - No one can naturally beat everyone else… if fight happens, will be long B. Man is selfish… competing for scarce things leads to constant war in nature - Food, land, water all limited… people constantly fight for them in natural state C. All powerful Leviathan (ruler) needed to keep peace for industry, security & social progress

5. Leviathan, continued • D. People Agree to give power to ONE to keep peace… a SOCIAL CONTRACT (unwritten agreement joined into by society) • In natural state, people eventually tire from constant war and decide to voluntarily give up some of their rights for protection… In Hobbes’ state, the only Right a person has is Life. E. Once give power to One, can’t be taken back or given to another - That would lead to more war/constant struggle & prevent human progress

6. This is the famous title page to Hobbes’ Leviathan. Look closely at the picture… 1. How does it symbolize the idea of absolutism? 2. Where can one make out the Social Contract? 1. Ruler w/sword and staff towering over entire nation. 2. The ruler is made up of people… his constituents give him his true power.

7. Hobbes Questions… • What kind of government does Hobbes favor? • How might the period he lived (1588-1679) have had an affect upon his thoughts (or, what is his POV?)? • In what ways did the policies of Louis XIV mimic Hobbes-ian thought?

8. Two Treatises on Government, John Locke • 1690 England (after Glorious Revolution); CONSTITUTIONALISM In NATURAL STATE of MAN… • People are naturally good & peaceful. - Gov’t is largely unnecessary. Only need comes about because a very small # of people are not honest, and will steal. - Person who was stolen from cannot set punishment, as they will take it too personal. Might want death for person who stole their bread.

9. Thus, to Locke, Government is created to settle disputes where individual people might act irrationally (like with the thief on previous slide, or in a property dispute). Government’s job is to preserve people’s rights: • Have NATURAL Rights: Life, liberty and Property - Remember American Declaration of Independence? Life, liberty and happiness? Thomas Jefferson got it from Locke… in fact, Jefferson’s first draft said the 3 rights above… but property didn’t sound quite right as justification for revolt. Happiness was more idealistic.

10. Another Cool Thing About Locke... • If gov’t. doesn’t uphold rights, people have Right to Overthrow Gov’t. - Think about what this saying. In Absolutism, the king answers Only to God. Locke says that if a king doesn’t respect the wishes of his people, he’s out of a job. This was the idea behind Parliament appointing William and Mary… James II had not protected the rights of his people, so they (Parliament) had the right to depose him. - Interestingly, the American colonists clung to this idea when it came time for independence. Seemed the British king wasn’t following Locke’s laws in 1760s/1770s, so they had a right to overthrow him.

11. Locke Questions… • 1. How does Locke’s view of human nature differ from Hobbes’? • 2. What kind of government does Locke support? • 3. How might Locke’s later years (lived 1632-1704) influenced his view of man, as well as his political thought?