Explain how Hobbes and Locke influenced the social and
political landscape of Europe and the Americas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hobbes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract
Read lots, including the external references at the bottom of each webpage.
Take good notes, keeping track of exactly where you get information.
Let us know what you decide to write.
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two influential philosophers who greatly shaped the social and political landscape of Europe and the Americas. Let's delve into their ideas and how they had an impact:
1. Thomas Hobbes: Hobbes is best known for his work on social contract theory and his book "Leviathan." He argued that human beings are fundamentally self-interested and driven by a desire for self-preservation. According to him, in a state of nature, there would be a perpetual state of war, where life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. Consequently, people entered into a social contract, surrendering some of their rights to a sovereign ruler in exchange for protection and order.
- Impact on Europe: Hobbes' ideas were significant during the time of political instability, particularly in England during the English Civil War. His concept of absolute monarchy influenced the theory of divine right of kings, which legitimized the authority of the monarchy. It provided a theoretical framework for centralized power and laid the foundation for the development of modern political thought.
2. John Locke: Locke's ideas, as outlined in his book "Two Treatises of Government," had profound influence on the social and political landscape.
- Natural Rights: Locke argued that individuals possessed natural rights to life, liberty, and property. He believed that governments derived their power from the consent of the governed and had the obligation to protect these natural rights. If a government failed to do so, the people had the right to overthrow it.
- Impact on Europe: Locke's ideas gained popularity during the Enlightenment, a period of intellectual and philosophical revolution. His belief in limited government, individual rights, and representative democracy challenged the traditional authority of monarchy. His ideas laid the groundwork for the development of constitutionalism, the notion that governments should be based on a written document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of both the government and the people.
- Impact on Americas: Locke's ideas greatly influenced the American Revolution and the subsequent formation of the United States. The Declaration of Independence, which was heavily influenced by Locke's principles, explicitly states that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed and that the people have the right to alter or abolish a destructive government.
In summary, Hobbes' concept of social contract and absolute monarchy influenced the theory of divine right, while Locke's ideas on natural rights and the consent of the governed laid the foundation for limited government and individual rights. Both philosophers profoundly shaped the social and political landscape of Europe and the Americas, contributing to the development of modern political theory and the establishment of democratic systems of governance.