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Questions and Answers
What is the term Thomas Hobbes used to describe a society without rules and laws?
What is the term Thomas Hobbes used to describe a society without rules and laws?
According to Hobbes, what would be the outcome of living in a state of nature?
According to Hobbes, what would be the outcome of living in a state of nature?
What is the social contract, according to Hobbes?
What is the social contract, according to Hobbes?
What is the main difference between Hobbes' and Locke's views on human nature?
What is the main difference between Hobbes' and Locke's views on human nature?
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What are the benefits of the social contract, according to Hobbes?
What are the benefits of the social contract, according to Hobbes?
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What is a characteristic of a society in a state of nature, according to Hobbes?
What is a characteristic of a society in a state of nature, according to Hobbes?
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What did Jean Jacques Rousseau believe was the duty of men?
What did Jean Jacques Rousseau believe was the duty of men?
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Which philosopher believed that governments exist only to serve the needs of the people?
Which philosopher believed that governments exist only to serve the needs of the people?
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What was the historical event during which Thomas Hobbes lived?
What was the historical event during which Thomas Hobbes lived?
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What was the concept that Thomas Hobbes believed in?
What was the concept that Thomas Hobbes believed in?
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What was the outcome of the English Civil War?
What was the outcome of the English Civil War?
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What was the main concern of John Locke?
What was the main concern of John Locke?
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What was the period of time during which Locke and Rousseau lived?
What was the period of time during which Locke and Rousseau lived?
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What was the main difference between the views of Locke and Rousseau?
What was the main difference between the views of Locke and Rousseau?
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What was the historical document that William and Mary had to sign to regain their throne?
What was the historical document that William and Mary had to sign to regain their throne?
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What is the underlying philosophy of the United States Bill of Rights?
What is the underlying philosophy of the United States Bill of Rights?
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Study Notes
Thomas Hobbes
- Proposed that a society without rules and laws would be a dreadful place to live, referring to it as a "state of nature"
- In a state of nature, people would act on their own accord, without responsibility to the community
- Life would be Darwinian, where the strongest survive and the weak perish
- A society without rules would lack comforts and necessities, including commerce, culture, knowledge, leisure, security, and arts
Social Contract
- The social contract is unwritten and inherited at birth
- It dictates that individuals will not break laws or certain moral codes, and in return, they receive security, survival, education, and other necessities
John Locke
- Viewed men as born into a "perfect state of nature" with natural rights and freedoms, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
- Believed men are born good and should be trusted to govern themselves through the creation of laws that protect them from unjust government actions
Jean Jacques Rousseau
- Believed that men are born free, but are shackled by oppressive governments
- Thought it is the duty of men to take control of the government and establish a government responsive to the "general will"
- His views are considered closest to the original idea of direct democracy, as practiced in ancient Greece
Evaluating the Views of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau
- Their philosophies can be placed along a political spectrum, involving a trade-off between natural liberties and freedoms versus strong authoritarian governments
- Hobbes saw the role of government as providing security and defense, with people owing everything to a strong leader
- Locke saw the role of government as protecting individual rights, with governments existing only to serve the people
- Rousseau's views emphasize the importance of political liberties and the need for a responsive government
Historical Context
- Hobbes lived during the English Civil War and believed in the Divine Right of kings
- Locke and Rousseau lived during the Enlightenment, a time of questioning authority and promoting reason and individual rights
- The Enlightenment led to economic and political prosperity, and the rise of property ownership by the common man
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Description
Explore the concept of a society without rules and laws as proposed by Thomas Hobbes. Learn how a state of nature would lead to a Darwinian existence and understand the importance of governance in society.
