Comparing Great Philosophers

Comparing Great Philosophers

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who was impressed by the inability of the English Monarchy to withstand the pressure of the civil war. The Civil war motivated Thomas to think about how people could work and live together in peace and to maintain social order. Hobbes’s scientific view ultimately became the bases of liberal thought. Hobbes believed that individuals choose to live under government; therefore governments exist for the protection of the individual. Individuals do not exist for the protection of government. But his liberal point of view clashed with the existing ideology of society. The ideology society possessed at that time was in order to be a leader and to govern Britain; one must possess legitimacy in the form of The Divine Right of Kings. At that time society was heavily influenced by the church’s view. The view of the medieval church was that people lived in society in order to satisfy the collective good of all God’s children. Hobbes believed human behaviour is determined by basic Natural Law rather than God’s Law. Hobbes perceived Natural Law to be a precept, or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life, or takes away the means of preserving the same. While Hobbes believed that people develop political practice in order to reach order. Hobbes viewed people as a body which incorporated the people. He explained that people group together to avoid social chaos. Hobbes called the body that formed Leviathan. Hobbes contributed to western society in the form of liberalism. He’s goal of liberalism is to guarantee human equality and rights according to Natural Law. Hobbes view was that strong governments are a means of achieving what individuals desire most-social harmony.

John Locke widely known in modern time as Father of classical liberalism was an English philosopher and physician. He was widely recognized as an important contributor to the social contract. The social contract defines that individuals have consented, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and to submit to the authority of the ruler, in exchange for protection of their remaining rights. His work had a great impact upon development of political philosophy. His contributions to classical republicanism and liberal theory are reflected in western society in the form of Canadian parliamentarianism and American republicanism. What influenced Locke to become what he is today were the harsh realities of political intrigue during the conflict between Anglicans and Puritans over who was to succeed Charles II. Locke believed that the emerging middle class should have more political power. But he did not believe that all individuals deserve a say in government .His view was that only those who showed success in acquiring wealth, that is, controlling nature for their own benefits were worthy. Locke accepted revolution as a justifiable means for reaching social relationship among individuals.

Charles Montesquieu was a French social commentator and political thinker. Montesquieu was famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers, and implemented in many constitutions throughout the world. Montesquieu view was that the individual was more important than the group. He was opposed to tyranny because he believed it didn’t reflect the spirit of people. He suggested people are capable of understanding Natural Law, the laws that govern human behaviour. He explained that the individuals build political institutions that reflect their religion, customs, family structures and livelihoods, so Montesquieu emphasized that politics should reflect these social factors and the spirit of the social system. Montesquieu was the first to explain how social, economic, and geographic factors affect the way political decisions are made. He did not feel that one form of government should be used globally but he believed different type of countries should have different forms of government. Charles Montesquieu encouraged the government to look at its underpinnings of their political institutions and laws. In other to change a political system one must first consider social changes in the form of traditions and economics. In order to do a formula must take place, he called this formula constitutionalism. He explained to have three branches of government with independent powers. These were branches for making decisions or laws (legislative), for enforcing decisions or laws (executive) and for interpreting decisions or laws (judicial). He had little faith in the majority because ultimately they can rob the freedom of the minority. The separation of power was crucial to him in order to reflect the spirit of the society. He argued that government should deprive individual’s citizens of their rights with the context of rule of law. Montesquieu influenced western society with the structure of modern western political institutions.

Abdiaziz Mohamed