what did hobbes and locke believe the primary object of government was?
to create a just society
to allow people to live their lives in peace and security
to build a powerful nation
to build society according to god's laws
Hobbes and Locke had differing views on the primary object of government.
Thomas Hobbes believed that the primary object of government was to provide a strong central authority to maintain order and prevent a state of nature, in which life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." Hobbes believed that people should willingly give up their individual rights and submit to the authority of a sovereign ruler in order to achieve social order and security.
On the other hand, John Locke argued that the primary object of government was to protect the natural rights of individuals, including life, liberty, and property. He believed that people have the right to govern themselves and that governments were created by consent to ensure the protection of these rights. According to Locke, if a government fails to protect these rights, the people have the right to overthrow it.
In summary, while Hobbes believed that the primary object of government was to establish order and security, Locke believed it was to protect individual rights and allow people to live their lives freely.
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke had different beliefs about the primary object of government.
1. Hobbes believed that the primary object of government was to establish peace and security in society. He argued that in a state of nature, without government, life would be "nasty, brutish, and short." Therefore, the purpose of government, according to Hobbes, was to prevent individuals from constantly being at war with one another and to maintain social order.
2. Locke, on the other hand, believed that the primary object of government was to protect the natural rights of individuals, which included life, liberty, and property. According to Locke, people entered into a social contract with the government to secure their rights. Therefore, the purpose of government, according to Locke, was to ensure the freedom and well-being of individuals.
So, while Hobbes emphasized peace and security, Locke focused on protecting individual rights and liberties.
Hobbes and Locke, both influential political philosophers, held different views on the primary objective of government.
Thomas Hobbes believed that the primary object of government was to create a just society and maintain social order. According to Hobbes, humans naturally exist in a state of "war of all against all" (often referred to as the "state of nature") where people's lives are solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. To escape this chaotic state, Hobbes argued that individuals should surrender their rights and freedoms in exchange for security and protection provided by a strong central authority. Therefore, for Hobbes, the primary duty of government was to establish a strong and authoritarian rule that could maintain order, prevent conflicts, and preserve peace within society.
On the other hand, John Locke believed that the primary object of government was to protect the natural rights of individuals, primarily the rights to life, liberty, and property. According to Locke, individuals have inherent rights that existed before the formation of society, and these rights should be safeguarded by a government. To accomplish this, Locke argued for a limited government that operates based on the consent of the governed and is bound by a social contract. According to Locke, the government's role is to create a framework in which the people can live their lives in peace and security, and any government that fails to protect these natural rights can be legitimately challenged or overthrown by the people.
Neither Hobbes nor Locke directly argued for the objective of building a powerful nation or constructing society according to God's laws as the primary object of government. However, it is important to note that both philosophers discussed the importance of order, stability, and a social contract between the government and the governed, albeit with different approaches and concepts.