Write an essay of no more than 2750 words on the following topic. Be sure to cite passages generously from the texts of Machiavelli and Hobbes (in quotation marks‚ of course). Since we’re all using the same translations of Machiavelli‚ you should cite by page number; since we have discussed Hobbes with reference to chapter and section number‚ you should cite this way: L 18.2. You should not do any secondary reading for this paper. Your work should be based on your own thinking‚ your own reading
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Philosopher Thomas Hobbes argued that government was best if it was autocratic‚ an all-powerful sovereign. To understand Hobbes’s reasoning‚ it is crucial to first understand his view on man’s conditions in an anarchic environment. In Hobbes’ perspective‚ man’s life in the state of nature was “solid‚ poor‚ brutish‚ and short” because man is selfish and violent. Without institutions to provide security‚ man was always in a constant state of war. These anarchic conditions compel men to look after
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Thomas Torres Professer Underwood RWS 101 October 28th 2013 The Ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau through the lens of Thomas Jefferson. In Jean-Jacques Rousseau ’s “the Origin of Civil Society‚ Rousseau presents Ideas that‚ in his society‚ were considered very radical. He points out that a Society was in a natural state and that when we were that we were born free‚ and when we subject ourselves to a king‚ he must hold up certain rights and protect them‚ and in return they give him power‚ what
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Hobbes vs. Rousseau Drug abuse is obviously a huge issue in our country‚ but how would Hobbes and Rousseau’s opinions differ on it? Hobbes talks about individual self interests and punishment. Rousseau talks about education and socialization. The both believe however that the sovereign should decide these laws Hobbes’ law of nature can be summarized as a general rule discovered by reason that forbids a person from doing anything destructive to his own life and gives her the right of self-preservation
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Thomas Hobbes’ imagined “state of nature” is full of “masterless men” (p. 140). Jean Jacque Rousseau’s imagined “state of nature” is full of radically independent‚ solitary individuals who are innocent of good and evil. How does Hobbes come to that conclusion about man in the state of nature? On what kinds of evidence does he rely? How does Rousseau come to his conclusion about individuals in the state of nature. On what kind of arguments does he rely? Compare and contrast their imagined states
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Hobbes vs. Locke Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were known as Social Contract Theorists‚ and Natural Law Theorists. The two men both had very strong views on freedom and how a country should be governed. Thomas Hobbes had more of a Pessimistic view while John locke had more of an Optimistic view. Hobbes and Locke believed in a type of Social Contract between the Government and being governed. Hobbes believed in Absolute Monarchs and Locke believed in the will of people being governed. Hobbes opposed
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Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two of the greatest political and philosophical thinkers of their time and ours. Ideas like these have shaped governments throughout history and still hold true today. They had extremely different views on government‚ but the bases of their arguments were similar. They used reason to justify their ideas‚ rather than divine right. Although both men acknowledged that there was a God‚ He played a very small part in their ideologies. The philosophers each had an impact
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Enlightenment‚ freedom‚ and Political rights: creating a “just” society Hobbes: “life is nasty‚ brutish‚ and short...” Pessimistic about humans fear of anarchy--bad for economics Ultimate power with strong ruler “Leviathan” John Locke: “Wherever law ends‚ tyranny begins.” Rights: “life‚ liberty‚ and property...” optimistic about humans IF equality and tolerance.... ultimate power with people Thomas Hobbe’s In Leviathan‚ Thomas Hobbe’s argued that ordinary people were incapable of governing
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Ashlyn Brunk Parson POS 352 October‚ 2012 Exam 1: Hobbes/Locke 1. Compare and contrast Hobbes and Locke on political power? In answering this question explain Locke’s argument against Hobbes’s understanding of “paternal” and despotical power. On the discussion of power and social structure‚ both John Locke and Thomas Hobbes introduce their theories on paternal and despotical power in Second Treatise of Government and Leviathan respectively. Both men believe that social order is constructed
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that has been greatly influential. Two specific philosophers Thomas Hobbes and Thomas Aquinas‚ evaluate Aristotle’s perspective of the political nature in relation to mankind. Thomas Aquinas uses Aristotle’s principles as a foundation for his reasoning in writing “On Law‚ Morality‚ and Politics.” He modifies Aristotle argument by contributing the religious sphere into the fundamental principles of his political teachings. Thomas Hobbes‚ on the contrary‚ is a lot more critical of Aristotle and attacks
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