Primary/Secondary Sources
John Locke v Thomas Hobbes
Study Guide
A. Primary Source
1. Definition – a term used to describe sources of material that are closest to the person, information,
period, , or idea being presented
2. Examples – first hand document, government records, artifacts (man-made objects) interviews,
diaries, letters, videos, autobiographies, photographs, maps, public documents
B. Secondary Source
1. Definition – material created later by someone who did not experience firsthand or participate in the
events.
2. Examples – history textbooks, biographies, musical recordings, published stories, art painted after the
real events by a non-witness
Terms to Know:
Consent – to approve of something or allow something to take place. For example, the power of
legitimate government comes only from the consent of the people.
Natural Rights – rights that come from God or Nature. NOT from man
 You are born with these rights – you don’t have to earn them
 They include life, liberty and property
Social Contract - an agreement that requires compromise. All parties give up a little. No one gets
Everything they want.
Purpose of Government – to protect the natural rights of all people – rights that individuals cannot
effectively protect by themselves
State of Nature – a condition in which no government or law exists
Question: What might happen in a State of Nature
 Some people would respect the rights of others because their conscience tells them they should
 Others who are stronger or more skilled might abuse those who are weaker or less skilled
 Weaker people would find it hard to protect their rights, so they join together against the strong
 People would feel insecure and no one’s life, liberty or property would be safe
Question: Who is John Locke
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English philosopher who imagined what life would be like in a state of nature
In a state of nature there would no no laws or government
Most people would respect the rights of others because their conscience would tell them they had a duty
to do so
Other people might be driven by self-interest which can lead to the abuse of others
Moderate self-interest can lead to good when others benefit (get jobs)
Without laws, Locke believed that no one’s life, liberty or property would be safe because there would
be no government or laws to protect these natural rights
The only way there could be needed laws and government is thought the consent (approval of the people
by making a social contract
In a social contract everyone promises to give up the absolute right to do anything and in return
everyone receives the security provided by government
Each person consents to obey the laws created by government and everyone gains the security of
knowing the natural or God-given rights to life, liberty and property are protected
According to Locke – the main purpose of government is the protection of the natural rights of all
men
Many of John Locke’s ideas were used by the Founding Fathers in the writing of the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution of the United States
Question: Who is Thomas Hobbes
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An English scholar and philosopher
Saw humans as naturally selfish and quid to fight
In his state of nature everyone has a right to everything
This would lead people to be constantly fighting in order to get what they want
He believed people would live in a state of chaos without government
He believed that once people handed over some of their power in exchange for protection in a social
contract they would lose their right to even question their government
He wrote a book (Leviathan) on how the government works
In the book he said we need a strong central authority – a single sovereign – a king in order to
government to work
Hobbes was more concerned with order and protection of people than in the rights of people