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

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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 selfpreservation.
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.

W English Political
Thinker
W Believed people are born:
W Free
W Equal
W Good
W Optimistic View of the Nature of Man

W In a State of Nature man is in a State of
War
W Natural Rights:
W Life
W Liberty
W 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.

W Role of Government
W To make laws
W To enforce laws
W Laws should:
W Benefit the people
W Protect the Rights of the people
W 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