Thomas Hobbes And Locke's Accounts Of The State Of Nature

Compare and contrast hobbes’ and locke’s accounts of the state of nature.

Joana Dourado-000048269
PLT 4100A: Major Political Thinkers
Dr. Paul Rekret
February 26, 2015

[WORD COUNT: 1,074]

The state of nature as one would say is a concept in social contract theories to represent the supposed condition in which the live of man may have possibly been like before the existence of societies. Two 17th century political philosopher, which have both given their views and ideas of what a state of nature is and what comes about after this occurrence, are Thomas Hobbes I and John Locke I. Both philosophers’ writings have been of a great influence to those in the following centuries in modern political thought. Hobbes
Hobbes’ expresses, “nature hath made men equal in the faculties of mind and body” (Wotton, pg.158, 1996). In the same way Locke states, “state of perfect equality, where naturally there is no superiority” (Wotton, pg.288, 1996). Regardless of equality they both refer to being in the state of nature as dangerous. For Hobbes, while man is in the state of nature he will always be in a state of war, “if any two men cannot enjoy the same thing, they become enemies” (Wooton, pg.158, 1996). Like wise Locke says that without the law of nature it will lead men to a state of war (Wooton, pg.290,
He refers to the state of nature as “a State of perfect Freedom to order their action and dispose of their possessions, and persons as they think fit, without the bounds of the Law of Nature” (Wooton, pg.312, 1996). Locke suggests that it follows the Natural Law’s tradition, which implies that men are innate with morals. Consequently, for Locke, the state of nature does not suggest that it is a state of license, “he has not liberty to destroy himself, or so much as any creature in his possession” (Wooton, pg.313, 1996). As such reason teaches man to not harm anyone’s life, liberty or possessions, however man has “a right to punish transgressors” (Wooton, pg.313,