Hobbes Locke Rousseau State of Nature The state

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

State of Nature The state of nature is a state of war. No morality exists. Men are naturally evil. Everyone lives in constant fear. Because of this fear, no one is really free, but, since even the “weakest” could kill the “strongest, ” men ARE equal. State of Nature Men exist in the state Men in a state of of nature in perfect nature are free and freedom to do what equal. In a state of they want. Every nature, men are person was born with “Noble a blank mind. The Savages”. Civilization state of nature is not is what corrupted him. necessarily good or bad. It is chaotic. So, men do give it up to secure the advantages of civilized society.

Purpose of Government To secure natural rights, namely man’s life, liberty, and property. To bring people into harmony. To unite them under the “General Will”. To impose law and order to prevent the state of war.

Representation Governments are Representation is not ensures that designed to control, enough. Citizens governments are not necessarily cannot delegate their responsive to the represent. civic duties. They people. Representati must be actively on is a safeguard involved. Society against oppression. needs a more direct democracy to enact the general will.

Impact on Founders 1. Governments must be responsive and aligned with the general will. 1. Governments must be be designed to protect the people from themselves. from the government. 2. People make a nation, not institutions. 2. Natural Rights must be secured. 3. Individual wills are subordinate to the general (collective) will.

Political Spectrum Politically Liberal Politically Conservative Politically Liberal/Moderate

State of Nature The state of nature is a Men exist in the state of Men in a state of nature state of war. No morality nature in perfect freedom are free and equal. In a exists. Men are naturally to do what they want. state of nature, men are evil. Everyone lives in Every person was born “Noble constant fear. Because of with a blank mind. The Savages”. Civilization is this fear, no one is really state of nature is not what corrupted him. free, but, since even the necessarily good or “weakest” could kill the bad. It is chaotic. So, “strongest, ” men ARE men do give it up to equal. secure the advantages of civilized society. L R

Purpose of Government To secure natural rights, namely man’s life, liberty, and property. L To bring people into harmony. To unite them under the “General Will”. R To impose law and order to prevent the state of war. H

Representation Governments are Representation is not ensures that designed to control, enough. Citizens governments are not necessarily cannot delegate their responsive to the represent. civic duties. They people. Representati must be actively on is a safeguard involved. Society against oppression. needs a more direct democracy to enact the general will. L H R

Impact on Founders 1. Governments must be responsive and aligned with the general will. 1. Governments must be be designed to protect the people from themselves. from the government. 2. People make a nation, not institutions. 2. Natural Rights must be secured. 3. Individual wills are subordinate to the general (collective) will. R L H

Political Spectrum Politically Liberal Politically Conservative H Politically Liberal/Moderate L R

Hobbes Locke Rousseau State of Nature The state of nature is a state of war. No morality exists. Men are naturally evil. Everyone lives in constant fear. Because of this fear, no one is really free, but, since even the “weakest” could kill the “strongest, ” men ARE equal. Men exist in the state of Men in a state of nature are nature in perfect freedom to free and equal. In a state of do what they want. Every nature, men are “Noble person was born with a blank Savages”. Civilization is what mind. The state of nature is corrupted him. not necessarily good or bad. It is chaotic. So, men do give it up to secure the advantages of civilized society.

Hobbes Locke Rousseau Purpose of Government To impose law To secure To bring people and order to natural rights, into prevent the state namely man’s harmony. To of war. life, liberty, and unite them property. under the “General Will”.

Hobbes Locke Rousseau Representation Governments are designed to control, not necessarily represent. Representation is not ensures that enough. Citizens governments are cannot delegate their responsive to the civic duties. They people. Representati must be actively on is a safeguard involved. Society against oppression. needs a more direct democracy to enact the general will.

Hobbes Locke Rousseau Impact on Founders Governments must be 1. Governments must 1. designed to protect the be designed to people from themselves. protect the people from the government. Governments must be responsive and aligned with the general will. 2. Natural Rights must 2. People make a be secured. nation, not institutions. 3. Individual wills are subordinate to the general (collective) will.

Hobbes Locke Rousseau Political Spectrum Politically Conservative Politically Liberal/Moderate