Comparison Of Thomas Hobbes And John Locke On The Aim Of Government
As a political scientist one of the most important questions to ask is, “What should the aim of government in society be and why?” To answer this question I will examine the perspectives of three philosophers, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke, in regards to their views on government’s role and obligation in a society. To understand and define the aim of government in society the best form of government must first be defined. The best form of government will be defined using Plato’s teaching’s from “The Republic.” The best form of government or an ideally functioning government is one that is led by knowledgeable persons who have the ability to bring about happiness and justice (Plato and Bloom 1991) for all of society’s citizens.
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In Locke’s Second Treatise he argued that sovereignty was vested (Locke and Macpherson 1980) in the individual. Although Locke believed that in the state of nature, natural law did in fact dictate behavior, an individual had the right to uphold the law against any member of society who infringed upon their individual rights. Locke argued that even in a monarchical system of government, the king or sovereign can only reign with the consent of his people. Locke believed that a legitimate government was to preserve the rights, liberty, health and property of its citizens, and to prosecute or punish citizens who violated the rights of others, and to pursue the public good (Locke and Macpherson 1980) even if it conflicted with the rights of individual citizens. Additionally Locke believed that in certain circumstances society and individuals had the right and obligation to dissolve their government if and when the government ceased to work in their best interests. Ultimately Locke believed that government did not have sovereignty over the people of it’s society but that government existed to serve the people. After identifying and examining the perspectives of Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke, in regards to their views on government’s role and obligation in a society, the aim of government in society be can now be discussed. Aquinas, Hobbes, and Locke all agree that government
In Locke’s Second Treatise he argued that sovereignty was vested (Locke and Macpherson 1980) in the individual. Although Locke believed that in the state of nature, natural law did in fact dictate behavior, an individual had the right to uphold the law against any member of society who infringed upon their individual rights. Locke argued that even in a monarchical system of government, the king or sovereign can only reign with the consent of his people. Locke believed that a legitimate government was to preserve the rights, liberty, health and property of its citizens, and to prosecute or punish citizens who violated the rights of others, and to pursue the public good (Locke and Macpherson 1980) even if it conflicted with the rights of individual citizens. Additionally Locke believed that in certain circumstances society and individuals had the right and obligation to dissolve their government if and when the government ceased to work in their best interests. Ultimately Locke believed that government did not have sovereignty over the people of it’s society but that government existed to serve the people. After identifying and examining the perspectives of Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke, in regards to their views on government’s role and obligation in a society, the aim of government in society be can now be discussed. Aquinas, Hobbes, and Locke all agree that government