During the 1600s, England was filled with political conflict. Civil war, the execution of a king, and the rise of constitutional government led many people to ask big questions: What is the best form of government? Where does power come from? And how should rulers treat the people? Two major thinkers, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, had very different answers. Their ideas about power, rights, and human nature helped shape modern democracy and debates about government that continue today.
Thomas Hobbes: Order Through Authority
Thomas Hobbes lived through the English Civil War, and the violence he saw deeply influenced his thinking. In 1651, he published a book called Leviathan, where he described his view of government. Hobbes believed that people were naturally selfish, greedy, and prone to conflict. Without a strong government, he thought life would be “nasty, brutish, and short.” He argued that people needed to give up some of their freedom in exchange for protection and order. This agreement was called a social contract. Hobbes supported absolute monarchy. He believed that a powerful ruler was necessary to keep peace and prevent chaos. In his view, people had no right to rebel once they agreed to be ruled—even if the government was unfair.
John Locke: Government by the People
John Locke had a much more hopeful view of human nature. Writing after the Glorious Revolution, he believed that people were capable of reason and cooperation. In his book Two Treatises of Government, published in 1689, Locke explained a different version of the social contract. According to Locke, people are born with natural rights—including life, liberty, and property. The job of government is to protect those rights. If a ruler breaks the contract by abusing power or violating rights, the people have the right to rebel and replace the government. Locke supported constitutional government, where laws limit the power of leaders. His ideas later influenced the American and French Revolutions.
Key Differences Between Hobbes and Locke
While both philosophers believed in a social contract, they disagreed about its meaning:
- Hobbes believed people give up rights for safety and must obey a strong ruler
- Locke believed people keep their rights and can challenge a ruler who misuses power
They also had different views of human nature:
- Hobbes saw people as selfish and violent
- Locke saw people as reasonable and cooperative
Why It Matters
Hobbes and Locke had a major impact on political thought. Hobbes supported order and obedience, while Locke supported freedom and rights. Today, their ideas still influence debates about how much power governments should have—and how much freedom people should keep.