IDEOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHERS

HOBBES, LOCKE, & ROUSSEAU ANSWER THE THREE BIG QUESTIONS

Social 30

Before we begin, a couple questions… Do you believe that people are born

inherently: Good Neutral Evil

What has your church taught you?

Application to our Philosophers Our philosophers would all answer the

previous question differently

Hobbes – born “evil”

Locke – born “neutral”

Rousseau – born “good”

However, they all fail to take Christ into perspective!

The Big Three Questions

What are humans like? What is the nature of society? What is the role of the individual in

society?

Use of force?

Social Contract Theory

Was a widely held enlightenment theory that all three of our philosophers held to

Social Contract is the belief that: “individuals have consented to surrender

some of their freedoms to the authority of a ruler, or to the decision of a majority, in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.”

•Born in England•Studied at Oxford University•Tutored the Prince of Wales, later King Charles II•His work serves as the primary foundation of Western political philosophy

Thomas Hobbes1588-1679

Hobbes: Leviathan

Hobbes argues for the existence of governments – originating from “Social Contract Theory” Without government,

people would have a “right” to everything in the world, leading to a “war of all against all”

Humanity is inherently selfish

Hobbes: Leviathan 1651

In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving, and removing, such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

"Chapter XIII.: Of the Natural Condition of Mankind As Concerning Their Felicity, and Misery.", Leviathan

Hobbes: Leviathan 1651

A strong political state is therefore necessary to establish civil society

Hobbes sees society as a population beneath a sovereign authority (monarch) The monarch is permitted

to abuse power – this is the price of peace

Hobbes: Key Points

What are Humans like? Fearful, violent and dangerous self-interest Extreme individualism

What is the nature of society? (IDEAL) Cannot exist by human nature alone –

individualism gets in the way

Hobbes: Key Points

What is the role of the individual in society? (IDEAL) Consent to being ruled by one in order to

have security and avoid continual fear, danger of a violent death, and a society where life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short

Use of force As needed to ensure the security of the

individual and the state

•Born in England•Considered one of the first British “Empiricists” – who believe that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience•His writings influenced Voltaire, Rousseau, and the American revolutionaries

John Locke 1632-1704

Locke: Tabula Rasa

Literal Translation: “Blank Slate” Locke argues that individuals are born

without mental content Our minds are blank at birth Thus “nurture” is more influential than “nature”

Individuals are free to define their own character

This leads to the idea of “Natural Rights” Remember: Locke also holds to “Social

Contract” Theory

Locke: Second Treatise of Government (1689)"To properly understand political power and trace its

origins, we must consider the state that all people are in naturally. That is a state of perfect freedom of acting and disposing of their own possessions and persons as they think fit within the bounds of the law of nature. People in this state do not have to ask permission to act or depend on the will of others to arrange matters on their behalf. The natural state is also one of equality in which all power and jurisdiction is reciprocal and no one has more than another. It is evident that all human beings – as creatures belonging to the same species and rank and born indiscriminately with all the same natural advantages and faculties – are equal amongst themselves. They have no relationship of subordination or subjection unless God (the lord and master of them all) had clearly set one person above another and conferred on him an undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty."

Two Treatises On Government: A Translation Into Modern English, ISR/Google Books, 2009, page 70.

Locke: Second Treatise of Government (1689)

Key arguments: Individuals in a state are bound

morally not to harm each other But government is needed to

protect people from injury or enslavement

The state plays the role of a “neutral judge”

“Inviolate freedom under law” – government gains its power from the people

Locke: Summary

All people have inalienable rights to freedom

People sacrifice some freedoms, so that a government may protect other freedoms Governments are accountable to people People may revolt to defend against tyranny

People “own” their own labour Labour brings value Nobody should be limited in what they are

allowed to accumulate

Locke: Key Points

What are humans like? People are intelligent Individuals possess the ability to be

reasonable and make rational decisions People are born as a blank slate – “tabula

rasa”

Locke: Key Points

What is the nature of society? (IDEAL) Most people believed in divine right, but

Locke believed that power was in the people themselves

Governments exist only to protect life, liberty and property This is why people give up their natural state of

freedom to enter into a civil society

Locke: Key Points

What is the role of the individual in society? (IDEAL) The notion of popular consent Locke believed in democracy, which is why

he was used by the American revolutionaries almost 100 years later!

Use of force? Is allowed, in so far as to protect life,

liberty, and property rights

•Born in Geneva, Lived in France•His philosophies directly impacted the French Revolution•Had critical views on religion which caused his books to be banned in France & Switzerland•He was also a noted composer!

Jean-Jacques Rousseau1712-1778

Rousseau: Discourse on InequalityThe first man who, having fenced in a piece of

land, said "This is mine," and found people naïve enough to believe him, that man was the true founder of civil society. From how many crimes, wars, and murders, from how many horrors and misfortunes might not any one have saved mankind, by pulling up the stakes, or filling up the ditch, and crying to his fellows: Beware of listening to this impostor; you are undone if you once forget that the fruits of the earth belong to us all, and the earth itself to nobody.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on Inequality, 1754

Rousseau: Discourse on Inequality Mankind is born inherently good, and it

is society that corrupts us This negative influence is based on amour

de soi (or pride) Thus for Rousseau, societies that may be

perceived as “backwards” are actually very good (for example: Caribbean islanders) The concept of the “Noble Savage”

Rousseau criticized Hobbes for believed that mankind is inherently wicked

Rousseau: Key Points

What are humans like? Human nature is pure Humans are naturally free and equal People had lost their compassion, became

selfish, and based their happiness on the opinions of others

What is the nature of society? (IDEAL) Inherently good people have been

corrupted by society & civilization Private property and ownership of land lead

to jealousy and corruption

Rousseau: Key Points

What is the role of the individual in society? (IDEAL) To reject representative democracy and

instead want direct democracy Rousseau was interested in promoting the

common good

Use of Force? Absolutely not

Readings

30-1: Introduction Pages 9-19

30-2: Chapter 1 Pages 28-34