Homework
• HW #2 due Wednesday.
Aim #3: How did the ideologies of John
Locke and Thomas Hobbes differ?
• Do Now: Take out the handout from yesterday
and turn to side two. Read the passages by
John Locke, and answer the five questions.
John Locke (Answers to the questions
on the handout)
1. People are basically good and reasonable. A
government must have the consent (approval)
of the people to exist.
John Locke
2. The rights to life, liberty and property.
Government exists to protect these rights!
John Locke
3. If a government tries to take away the natural
rights of life, liberty and property from the
people, the people have the right to
overthrow that government and create a new
one.
John Locke
4. When rulers use their power to benefit
themselves and not to serve and help the
people. When rulers become tyrannical,
people have the right to rebel and form a new
government.
Assignment
• Fill in the graphic organizer comparing Thomas Hobbes
and John Locke. Put Hobbes views on the left side of the
sheet, and Locke’s on the right. When you are done, write
one paragraph (at least 3-4 sentences) in response to the
final question.
Human Nature
• Hobbes
– Human beings are
greedy, violent, cruel,
untrustworthy.
• Locke
– Human beings are
basically reasonable and
social. They are born
with a tabula rasa (blank
slate), and have the
potential to achieve
great things.
Purpose of Government
• Hobbes
– To maintain order and
prevent chaos and
violence
• Locke
– To protect the natural
rights (life, liberty,
property) of the people.
Rights of the People
• Hobbes
– People have no natural
rights. The rights that
they are lucky enough to
get come from the
government
• Locke
– Men are born with three
natural rights that come
from god (life, liberty
and property)
Political Revolution/Rebellion
• Hobbes
– People have no right to
overthrow a cruel
government. This will
only lead to more chaos.
A tyrannical government
is better than anarchy!
• Locke
– The people have the
right to overthrow their
government if the
government has violated
their natural rights.
Concluding Question
• Which philosopher, Hobbes or Locke, do you
think is most accurate overall? Why?