Enlightenment Grudge Match: Locke Versus HobbesEssential Question: How did Locke and Hobbes disagree with each other about the nature of mankind and what government should be like?

I. Thomas Hobbes: Human Nature• According to Hobbes, people by nature

are…-Selfish-Brutish (brutal)-Evil-Corrupt-Mean-etc…

II. John Locke: Human Nature• According to Locke, people by nature

are…-a tabula raza (say what???)-Locke believed that people at birth

were a blank slate and the society (friends, family, television, etc…) would corrupt (change) them

-Most people would become good, but a few would become bad, so we need laws and punishments for them only

III. Thomas Hobbes: Strong Gov.• Hobbes felt that since people were bad

by nature, they needed powerful government that could make quick decisions to keep them in line

• People needed harsh laws that kept them in place and to keep them from being able to do the horrible things they would do otherwise

• Hobbes felt that the best way to ensure order was to have a monarchy

IV. John Locke: Government of Rights• Locke felt that since most people were

good, they deserved to have rights• He called these “Natural Rights” which all

people received at birth• Locke’s three natural rights were

-life-liberty-property

V. John Locke: Government of Rights• Locke argued that the purpose of

government was to protect people’s rights

• If the government refused to protect those rights, then people had the right to change their government

• By any means necessary…-Vote-Revolt-Kill-Atomic bombs (not really)

Writing Assignment:• Do you agree more with Locke or Hobbes

about human nature and the role of government and rights? Explain yourself in a well written 3 paragraph essay…