Political Philosophy: Locke, Rousseau, and Hobbes

Justice Notes

• State of Nature Theory: Figuring out the purpose of government by examining problems in a society without a governing body.

• Hobbes's View: Believed a state of nature is a "war of all against all," where life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. The solution is an absolute government.

• Aristotle's View: Argued that hierarchy and rule are natural, some people are naturally fit to rule and others to be ruled, and all share an interest in forming a political society.

• Hobbes's Egalitarian Foundations: Believed humans are naturally equal in ability to achieve goals—no one is naturally superior to others. Strength of individuals is equalized by the possibility of alliances.

• Sources of Conflict in the State of Nature: Hobbes identified competition, diffidence (distrust), and glory as fundamental sources of conflict in a state of nature.

• Prisoner's Dilemma: A scenario where rational self-interest leads to worse outcomes for all involved. If individuals act in their own self-preservation, it can lead to a conflict that isn’t in anyone’s best interest. Individuals should cooperate instead of individually seeking to maximize their gain.

Hobbes on Rights

• Claim Rights vs. Liberty Rights: Claims rights obligate others to let you do something, while liberty rights allow you to do something without obligating anyone to do anything in particular, with certain exceptions.
• Laws of Nature: Based on self-preservation and the avoidance of violent death. These rules guide individuals towards peace and cooperation. First law is seeking peace when possible and resorting to war only when survival is threatened. A second law is that people commit to a mutual agreement to limit their liberties if there’s the possibility of peace.

Hobbes’s Solution to State of Nature Problems

• Sovereign as an Enforcer: The sovereign is an absolute authority and enforces and settles disputes to prevent the chaos of a state of nature.

• The Sovereign’s Power: The sovereign’s power must be unlimited to address all disagreements about what’s right, wrong, and what laws should be made and enforced.

Objections to Hobbes's View

• Pessimistic View of Human Nature: Critics argue that Hobbes’ view of human nature is too pessimistic and that people can cooperate without a powerful sovereign.

• Absolute Power Can Lead to Abuse: Critics question whether absolute power is the best solution to conflict, instead suggesting checks and balances on power.

Locke's View

• State of Nature Locke identified the state of nature as having certain characteristics such as having pre-existing natural rights.
• Natural Rights: Human beings possess natural rights of liberty, life, and property in the state of nature. Natural rights that others are obligated to let you do things/not interfere without justifiable cause.
• Natural Property Rights: Locke emphasizes the right to oneself - self-ownership - and the ability to acquire property by mixing one's labor with natural resources.
• Locke on Laws of Nature: Unlike Hobbes, Locke believes that people in a state of nature are guided by laws of nature that direct them to do well by others and to not harm others.

Locke's Social Contract

• Limited Government: Locke advocates a government with limited powers to secure natural rights. A government that rules in ways harmful to those rights should be resisted.

• Consent of the Governed: Locke argued that people consent to enter into a social contract, to ensure that governments don’t act in ways that harm the people’s protection and security.

Locke vs. Hobbes

• Nature of the State of Nature: Hobbes says there is continual conflict in the state of nature, and it is a justification for absolute government. Locke views the state of nature as inconvenient but not necessarily violent, and supports a limited government.

• Purpose of Government: Hobbes suggests that the main goal is peace; Locke contends that the main purpose of government is to secure and protect property rights.

Rousseau's View

• Equality in the State of Nature: Rousseau believes people are naturally good in a state of nature. When they enter the social contract and society they are motivated by greed and ambition and lose their original innocence.

• Inequalities: Rousseau argues that inequalities are largely a product of society and institutions rather than inherent features of human nature.

• Criticisms of Locke and Hobbes: Rousseau critiques Hobbes and Locke for overlooking the detrimental effects of inequality within societies, and how property rights can exacerbate these issues.