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Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

HOBBES LOCKE ROUSSEAU


W
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A state of war. Of every
man against every man.

No morality exists.
Everyone lives in
constant fear.
No one is really free.

But men are equal
because even the
weakest could
kill the strongest.

Perfect freedom.

People can do whatever
they want.

Not necessarily good or
bad, but it is chaotic.

So, people give up their
freedoms to gain
the benefits of a
civilized society.


Free and equal.

Human beings are
Noble Savages.

Civilization is what
corrupts humanity.

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
HOBBES LOCKE ROUSSEAU
W
h
a
t

i
s

t
h
e

S
t
a
t
e

o
f

N
a
t
u
r
e
?


A state of war. Of every
man against every man.

No morality exists.
Everyone lives in
constant fear.
No one is really free.

But men are equal
because even the
weakest could
kill the strongest.

Perfect freedom.

People can do whatever
they want.

Not necessarily good or
bad, but it is chaotic.

So, people give up their
freedoms to gain
the benefits of a
civilized society.


Free and equal.

Human beings are
Noble Savages.

Civilization is what
corrupts humanity.

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
HOBBES LOCKE ROUSSEAU
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N
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People inherently evil &
need to be protected
from themselves


People are inherently
good but get corrupted
by society

Life is purest in nature
& civilized man is
corrupted & unequal

R
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o
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a
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A persons rights go only
as far as necessary for
survival


Everyone is born equal
with the natural rights
to life, liberty &
property

In nature, individual
needs are met by the
group & thus noble &
perfect.

Civilization corrupts
natural law.

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
HOBBES LOCKE ROUSSEAU
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To impose law & order
to prevent the state of
war.


To secure Natural
Rights, namely mans
property & liberty.


To bring people into
harmony. To unite
them under the
General Will.
R
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Governments are
designed to control the
people, not necessarily
to represent them.

Representation ensures
that governments are
responsive to the
people.

Representation is a
safeguard against
oppression.
Representation is not
enough. Citizens cannot
delegate their civic
duties. They must be
actively involved.

To enact the General
Will, more direct
democracy is needed.
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
HOBBES LOCKE ROUSSEAU
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Government must be
designed to protect
the people from
themselves.


Government must be
designed to protect the
people from the
government itself.
Natural Rights must be
secured.

Governments must be
responsive & aligned
with the General Will.
People make a nation,
not institutions.
Individual wills are
subordinate to the
(collective) General Will.
B
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T
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Absolute Monarchy
Any representative
government:
Republic,
Democracy, or
Constitutional Monarchy
(limited not Absolute)

Totalitarian republic with
complete consensus
reflecting the
General Will

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