In 1600’s the English Civil War gave enlightened thinkers much to discuss

During this period two English Philosophers John Locke and Thomas Hobbes set forth Ideas that are key to the enlightenment

Living in England afforded them to see very different thoughts about man and nature

And the purpose and nature of government.

Human progress was constrained by social and political institutions

If we could find laws to govern the physical world, why not use reason to discover natural laws.

Laws that govern human nature

The enlightenment is where we get the ideas:

People should be ruled by laws

Separation of powers

Rulers need to take care of the people

• English Political Thinker

• Believed that all people are essentially selfish

• People are only motivated by their own desires

• Without Government society is in a constant state of war

• Everyone must give up their rights to a government

Hobbes witnesses Civil Wars of 1640’s

Hobbes wanted to support the royal cause, BUT not on mystical grounds.

Man is driven by desire and constrained by reason.

The absence of power to overawe them creates a situation of every man vs. every man.

Believed that people were naturally cruel, mean and selfish.

If people were not strictly controlled they would rob fight and oppress each other.

Life is a state of nature

Life without laws or controls

People enter into a social contract or agreement by which they gave up their state of nature for an organized society.

The only help for this problem, of the state of nature, is the idea of enlightened self-preservation.

A social contract by which people turn over all power to the central government

Hobbes did not want tyranny, but a moderate kingship with lots of individual latitude.

Thomas Hobbes writes a book called “Leviathan”

In this Hobbes maintained the sovereignty is ultimately derived from the people who transfer it to the monarchy by implicit contract.

The power of the Ruler is absolute BUT, kings do not hold their power by divine right.

He continues to say that “only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society.

Such a government could impose order and obedience.

Felt that men would obey the laws only as long as they felt protected.

Hobbes justifies absolute power while dispelling the idea on divine right.

English Political Thinker

Believed people are born: Free Equal Good

Optimistic View of the Nature of Man

In a State of Nature man is in a State of War

Natural Rights: Life Liberty Property

ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY READ OF THE ENLIGHTENED THINKERS

LOCKE DEFENDED THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION.

LOCKE ARGUE’S THE IDEA OF “Tabula Rasa”

THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING’S MIND IS A BLANK PAGE, AND ALL KNOWLEDGE COMES FROM EXPERIENCE.

LOCKE DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE VIEW THAT PEOPLE WERE BORN WITH THE TENDENCY TO SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY

LOCKE PUBLISHES HIS IDEAS ON POLITICAL THOUGHT IN 1690. IT IS CALLED “TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT”

IT REFLECTS THE NEW POLITICAL CONDITIONS CONFRONTING THE ENGLISH IN THE 1660’S

LOCKE WAS MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF MANKIND THAN HOBBES.

HE STILL HAD RESERVATIONS

HE WROTE ABOUT A STATE OF NATURE THAT MIGHT BE PEACEFUL BUT, WITHOUT IMPARTIAL JUDGES AND WITH THE THREAT OF CONSTANT WARFARE THE STATE OF NATURE WAS AT LEAST INCONVENIENT AND WORST A DISASTER

LOCKE STATED THAT PEOPLE COME TOGETHER IN A SOCIAL CONTRACT

BY MUTUAL CONSENT THEY CREATE A GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THEIR NATURAL RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT IS DERIVED FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.

WHEN A GOVERNMENT FAILS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE’S NATURAL RIGHTS AND INSTEAD INTERFERE’S WITH THEM BY ATTEMPTING TO RULE ABSOLUTELY, THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REBEL

AS THEY HAD DONE DURING THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

THE POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT IS STRICTLY CONDITIONAL

CENTRAL JOB OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT MAN’S PROPERTY

LOCKE FEELS THAT A PERSON MUST NOT BE DEPRIVED OF PROPERTY WITHOUT CONSENT

AND MUST LIVE UNDER DUE PROCESS OF THE LAW

LOCKE SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF A CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT THAT PLACED LIMITS ON A RULER’S AUTHORITY.

Role of Government To make laws To enforce laws

Laws should: Benefit the people Protect the Rights

of the people If Gov’t fails to

perform - people have the right to overthrow it.

--His ideas were used to create:--Declaration of

Independence--US Constitution--French

Constitution of 1791

LOCKE HOBBES