Comparing John Locke And Thomas Hobbes Version Of The Social Contract

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Thomas Hobbes version of the social contract theory is based on absolute power. The people would enter a one-sided contract where they would give up all their rights to an ultimate power. The ultimate power being a Leviathan, who will be ensured to make all their rights decisions to better the people. Leading to the people not having any power to make any decisions. The ultimate power will have complete control in the one-sided social contract. John Locke’s version of the social contract theory does not involve an ultimate power like a Leviathan. The people would enter a two-way contract with their government where they still retain certain rights of their own. The people can retain natural rights and not a single person can have all the power. …show more content…

State of Nature is the thoughts of what a society might look like if there was not laws or basic structure to a society. Hobbes is a firm believer that the state of nature would be desperate, state of war, with people in constant fear and danger. He thinks that a society in general will crumble under the force of chaos and anarchy that follows in a state of nature. People will quickly turn against one another when precious resources become scares forcing people to pick allies and enemies. Any person that’s let their guard down may be the next ones to be killed for another person to gain a needed resource. Hobbes state of nature will lead to people having rights given to certain people only. The people who come out on top of the social structure through the anarchy of the people. They would be the ones who decide who will be killed next and who will do what. While those who end up on the bottom of the social structure will have next to no rights unless they fight for them. They would be like servants to those of higher power. Everyone would be to be on the top to gain and hold the most rights. Eventually …show more content…

A person chooses to do something based on how they will profit from whatever they are doing. Nobody decides to help another person without finding some way for them to benefit from the situation. Humans are wired to avoid all forms of pain and obtain pleasure instead. Believing this Hobbes has come to the conclusion that humans are materialists. Since most people find gratification through objects that then obtain and hold onto. Man is not only controlled by physical needs but also my psychological wants and needs. Not all gratification can be found in a materialistic object. Hobbes concluded that human nature is ruled by psychological and physical needs, avoid pain and harm, leading everyone to an egoist. Locke on the other hand believes that humans can truly be altruistic instead egoistic. Not everyone will view a situation as what will they gain out of it, but will help others because the genuinely do want to help

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