FOUNDATIONS OF

GOVERNMENT
Age of Enlightenment
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John Locke and Thomas Hobbes
Political Philosophers
Thought on the Nature of Humanity…and
how this impacts Government
What is
this
state of
nature?
What does “the state of nature” mean?
 What life is “naturally” like before
people created governments
 Do we really know what this is? No. It
is what different philosophers imagine
life would be like without government.
 What do you think the state of nature,
or life without government would be
like?
 According to Locke, in the state of nature
everyone
 Is equal
 Has certain rights
 Follows “natural laws of reason” -
 don’t harm others’ LIFE/HEALTH or
 LIBERTY or
 PROPERTY POSSESSIONS
 Everyone has to preserve himself and others

 Has executive power- everybody has the right to

punish others for breaking these natural laws
Natural laws of the state of nature: don’t
mess with someone’s

 Life

 Liberty

 Property
 Here’s how Thomas Hobbes’ described life
in the state of nature, or life w/o government

Life in the state of nature is

essential a state of constant
violence, a state of war. It is...

“short, nasty,
and brutish”
 Class Opinion
 Do you agree with Locke’s interpretation of the
State of Nature or do you agree with Hobbes?
Explain
 The state of nature
is dangerous!

 If everybody has the right to punish

people who break the natural laws
then what is life like in the state of
nature?
 Forming a A social
government to
protect yourself contract
from the violence
of the state of
nature is called...
What is a Contract
What is the Social Contract?

AND
Government breaks the
contract?...Revolution!