Thomas Hobbes
and John Locke
• Limited Government- gov. does not have
absolute authority.
• State of nature- how humans would act in
their most basic state without a civil
government (savage, selfish, no concern for
justice or mercy toward other men)
• State of war- in the state of nature, people
were always at war with each other
Thomas Hobbes
• Hobbes lived through the English Civil War
• Wrote “Leviathan”
• Thought the first people on Earth lived in
chaos (state of nature)
• Social Contract- people give up individual
liberty for group safety and social order
• Life without government was short nasty and
brutish. People were naturally wicked and
could not be trusted to govern themselves
• Only the strong survive, the weak need the gov.
– absolute monarchy- best form of government
Hobbes Quote
• “humans are driven by a perpetual and
restless desire for power that ceases only in
death.”
Trail of Tears: Robert Lindneux
• What image is
the artist trying
to portray in this
picture?
• Whose rights
are being
• Who is responsible for the “trail of
violated and
tears”?
why?
• What is the relationship between the
“trail of tears” and the idea of limited
government?
Richard Nixon
• What event in
history does
this image
portray?
• Do you believe
that this
picture
represents a
man in a state
of nature?
Why or why
not?
President Richard Nixon pounds his fist on the
podium as he answers a question during his
televised appearance.
Israeli/Palestinian conflict
and war in Africa
• What is the
conflict
represented in
this picture?
• Do you believe
the fighting
between the
Israeli’s and the
Palestinians
illustrates a state
of war?
Civil war over minerals
to make our lives nice
and dandy (Tantalum)
A Palestinian youth throws a tear gas
canister back toward Israeli soldiers during
clashes in the West Bank
John Locke
• Just joking!!!
• Hahaha, bet none
of you know the
name of this
show?????
The real John Locke
• Also lived in England during the
English Civil war
• Wrote: Two Treaties of Government
• agreed with Hobbes that people needed gov’t
• Social Contract- people only gave up some of
their rights
– people should have rights that could never be
taken away
– Natural Rights (rights that can’t be taken away)
• Right to enjoy life, liberty, and own property
Locke Continued
• What should happen if these rights are denied
by the government?
– The ruler is a tyrant and should be overthrown
From these Philosophies…
• Parliament passed the English Bill of Rights
– Limits on gov (Par. Chooses ruler, king-no taxing)
– Protected rights of the people
• Did not have to pay excessive bail, or cruel and unusual
punishment
• Habeus corpus- protected people against
unfair arrest and imprisonment
• Eventually becomes a limited constitutional
monarchy