Essay Question Compare Hobbes’ and Rousseau’s assumptions about human nature. In each case what follows from these assumptions? Who do you agree with‚ and why? Throughout history‚ many philosophers have discussed the term ‘state of nature’ which is used to describe the natural condition of mankind either in the absence of a common authority or the lack of laws. In the book The Leviathan‚ Thomas Hobbes one of most important political philosopher‚ examines the state of
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Baron de Montesquieu was a French philosopher who lived around the late 1600’s and early 1700’s. This was before the French Revolution. He believed strongly in Thomas Locke‚ who was another French philosopher. Montesquieu also wrote many books that greatly influenced the society he was in at that time. Although Montesquieu was thought to be fair‚ he believed in slavery. Other ideas that he had were that women were not equal to men‚ but could still run government. He believed that
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causing the French Revolution. Montesquieu and Voltaire were two very major Enlightenment figures whose beliefs had a huge impact on the French Revolution. The ever-growing middle class of France had begun to have access to and absorb some writings and ideas of philosophes like Montesquieu‚ Voltaire‚ Rousseau‚ and Diderot. In addition‚ the recent American Revolution proved to the people of France that Enlightenment ideals could be implemented into their government. Montesquieu‚ a philosophe who believed
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renowned published The Spirits of the Law‚ greatly influenced the formation of the American Constitution. The philosophies which he brought forward into play evoke societies‚ especially those that were seeking to form new beginnings as a republic. Montesquieu seeks to look beyond the simple understanding of a law‚ to examine how a law is influenced by the society it was established for. Separation of powers is a necessity to guarantee liberty within a society‚ governed by separate bodies of individuals
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theorists that had very strong views on the social contract were Thomas Hobbes and Immanuel Kant. Although both of these theorists believed in a social contract they both had different views on what it exactly meant. Hobbes was a different kind of philosopher that had a very pessimistic view on humanity. In Hobbes’ book the Leviathan‚ he believed that humans were naturally nasty creatures and needed to be regulated in a society. For Hobbes one thing he also believed in was Utilitarianism‚ which is the desire
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Two of the greatest philosophers of all time are Thomas Hobbes and Niccolo Machiavelli. Hobbes was born in 1588 in England‚ when absolutism was taking hold in Europe. His most famous work was "Leviathan"‚ written in 1651. Hobbes discussed the ideal state and innate laws of man and nature‚ among other things. Machiavelli was born in Italy in 1469‚ a time when his home country was ruled mostly by foreign powers. His hometown‚ Florence‚ was still independent. Machiavelli’s most famous work‚ "The
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Guide to Locke A Guide to Locke’s Essay [pic] Introduction John Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding is a classic statement of empiricist epistemology. Written in a straightforward‚ uncomplicated style‚ the Essay attempts nothing less than a fundamental account of human knowledge—its origin in our ideas and application to our lives‚ its methodical progress and inescapable limitations. Even three centuries later‚ Locke’s patient‚ insightful‚ and honest reflections on these issues
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Thomas Hobbes‚ the son of an English vicar in the late 16th Century‚ approaches the questions of politics and human nature in a unique way‚ but there are definite similarities between his work and the work of earlier philosophers. Hobbes’ political theory coincides with the political theory of Niccolò Machiavelli‚ and yet differs in the theory of virtù. Hobbes follows Machiavelli in some important aspects of political theory‚ and yet expands upon or discards Machiavelli’s ideas in other important
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The State of Nature and its Implications for Civilization in Hobbes and Rousseau In his Leviathan Thomas Hobbes expresses a philosophy of civilization which is both practical and just and stems from a clear moral imperative. He begins with the assertion that in the state of nature man is condemned to live a life "solitary‚ poore‚ nasty‚ brutish‚ and short." It is in the interest of every man to rise above this "state of nature" and to give up certain rights so that the violent nature of the
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philosophers’ dissimilarity in ideology‚ it is rather helpful to make sense of the historical circumstances of these two men. Thomas Hobbes was born in England in 1588. He claims that his premature birth was the result of his mother going into labor early after she heard that the Spanish Armada was on its way to invade England. Regarding the event of his birth‚ Hobbes wrote in his autobiography‚ “My Native place I’m not asham’d to own; Th’ill Times‚ and Ills born with me‚ I bemoan: For Fame had rumour’d
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