John Lockes Views On The State Of Nature - 1272 Words

In his most well-known book Leviathan, philosopher Thomas Hobbes claimed that, â€Å"During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man† (Hobbes and Gaskin, 1998: p.77). In simpler terms, Hobbes is claiming that he believes mankind’s State of Nature is a constant State of War. Over time, philosophers and political theorists have come to disprove Hobbes’ theory, demonstrating that the State of Nature and the State of War are two separate entities. Three philosophers who disproved Hobbes’ theory were John Locke, who discussed his thoughts on the State of Nature in his Two Treatises of Government, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who discussed his beliefs about the State of Nature in The Social Contract, and Peter Kropotkin, who discussed his opinions on the State of Nature in Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution. I argue that Hobbes was incorrect in h is assumptions about the State of Nature, because he did not realize that humans are naturally endowed with reason or the importance of the family in man’s decision-making process, and he did not recognize that the State of Nature and the State of War are two separate entities. In Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes makes many assumptions about man’s natural state, ADD CONTEXT HERE starting with his assumption that all men are created equally, in both physical and mental strength. He claimed that even if one man has less physicalShow MoreRelatedThe Classical Theory Of The Law Of Nature And The Social Treaty Of John Locke Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pages The classical theory of the law of nature and the social treaty of John Locke can be found in the fundamentals of the modern, especially in the Anglo-Saxon, governmental institutions. This work of his exceeds the borders of one particular historical political event. 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