Perspectives on Human Nature and Government Hobbes Locke

Perspectives on Human Nature and Government Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau

Opening Questions Are humans inherently good? Why? n What makes humans good/bad? Why? n Why do we have/need government or rules for society (if we even do)? n

Thomas Hobbes (1588 -1679) • Social order is created by humans. Therefore, they can change it. Without government, society would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short!

Thomas Hobbes • People need order. • People will be willing to give up individual liberties to maintain peace. • The social contract is an agreement to obey the laws. • But, human nature will not allow this to happen! • Thus, the need for authoritarian government.

John Locke (1632 -1704) • Locke observed that, in society, people were rewarded based upon their industriousness. • But, people should not accumulate too much money, otherwise society could become a horrible place. • He proposed (like Hobbes before him) that people needed a sense of order. But how to achieve order while maximizing individual liberties?

John Locke • Locke stressed the moral imperative that prevented humans from pursuing a freefor-all. • A moral imperative is a principle originating inside a person's mind that compels him to act.

John Locke In Locke's philosophy, tabula rasa is theory that data is added to the human mind and rules for processing are formed solely by one's sensory experiences. n As understood by Locke, tabula rasa emphasizes the individual's freedom to author his or her own soul. Each individual is free to define the content of his or her character. n

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 -1778) Human nature is basically good n Admired the noble savage – humans living in a state of simple freedom governing themselves; compassionate n Society & civilization are corrupting forces on the individual n Society robs us of our freedom & makes us “bloodthirsty” n

Jean-Jacques Rousseau • Agreed with Hobbes’ Social Contract: mutual agreement to protect the rights of everyone; not only the wealthy. • No person is above the law.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. "

Hobbes (1588 -1679): • Without government, society would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short! • Without society, man would live in a state of nature, where we each have unlimited natural freedoms. • Humanity needs the Social Contract in which individuals honor the rights of others but lose certain freedoms. Unfortunately, human nature will not allow this to happen (we are essentially greedy and egocentric), thus, the need for authoritarian government. n Locke (1632 -1704): -People need a sense of order. • Humans are born as blank slates (tabula rasa), which means society can instill proper morality, and thus, a conscience. • Tabula rasa also implies self-determination and “nurture” in the nature vs. nurture debate. n Rousseau (1712 -1778): -Believed in the concept of the Noble Savage, in which humans come from a state of compassionate simplicity. -Believed that Human Nature is essentially good. -Pride and civilization distance humanity from its original, natural state of goodness. "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. " -Agreed with Hobbes’ Social Contract, but felt more optimistic of its success.

Hobbes (1588 -1679): • Without government, society would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short! • Without society, man would live in a state of nature, where we each have unlimited natural freedoms. • State of nature leads to “Right to all things" and thus the freedom to harm all who threaten one's own self-preservation • Right to all Things leads to “War of all against all" (Bellum omnium contra omnes), and thus chaos, anarchy, end of the world-type stuff. • Humanity needs the Social Contract in which individuals honor the rights of others but lose certain freedoms. Unfortunately, human nature will not allow this to happen (we are essentially greedy and egocentric), thus, the need for authoritarian government.

Locke (1632 -1704): • People need a sense of order. • Society avoids chaos because of the Moral Imperative. • The Moral Imperative is based on conscience (God). • Humans are born as blank slates (tabula rasa), which means society can instill proper morality, and thus, a conscience. • Tabula rasa also implies self-determination and “nurture” in the nature vs. nurture debate.

Rousseau (1712 -1778): • Believed in the concept of the Noble Savage, in which humans come from a state of compassionate simplicity. • Believed that Human Nature is essentially good. • Pride and civilization distance humanity from its original, natural state of goodness. "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. " • Agreed with Hobbes’ Social Contract, but felt more optimistic of its success.

Which theory does Shelley seem to follow in Frankenstein? Hobbes (1, 4): Humans inherently bad; need society to balance competing selfinterests n Locke (2, 5): Humans are blank slate; morality can be instilled by society n Rousseau (3, 6): Humans are born good; civilization drives us away from goodness n

In your groups… n n n Generate an open-ended discussion question about the monster that focuses on society, nature v. nurture, etc. As a group, answer your question from your philosopher’s perspective and come up with responses to others’ critiques of your argument Each group will assign a leader to lead the class in a brief (3 -4 minute) discussion of your question.