Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Hobbes & Locke on "state of nature". Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 6 page research paper that examines how Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)and John Locke(1632-1704) both predicated political theories on what each referred to as the "state of nature" and wound up in diametrically opposed positions. Bibliography lists 15 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khsonhl.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
to a concept utilized by social contract theorists to indicate the condition of human beings prior to the formulation of the first governments, or any situation in which human beings
live without formal governance (Honderich, 1995). By showing what was lacking the natural condition of humanity, both Hobbes and Locke hoped to demonstrate the functions and benefits of government,
as well as the rationality of accepting governmental authority. In other words, the state of nature that these philosophers referred to was generally characterized as being deficient in
certain areas, for which government - it was argued - provided the proper remedy. Therefore, both agreed that it made good sense for individuals to organize politically and accept the
dominance of political authority (Honderich, 1995). Up to this point, historys famous social contract theorists were all fairly close in agreement. However, as to what government constituted the best remedy
for supplying what the state of nature lacked, opinions differed sharply. Furthermore, these differences in opinion appeared to stem largely from how each theorist perceived, defined, and characterized the
state of nature (Honderich, 1995). Hobbes, characterized the state of nature as being an utterly lawless state of affairs in which "the notions of right and wrong, justice and
injustice...have no place" (2001). Hobbes argued that during this period in human development it was common experience that each man has the right to do whatever was required to preserve
his life by whatever means necessary. Hobbes termed this situation simply "war" (2001). He observed that under such circumstances "the life of a man (is) solitary, poor, nasty
brutish and short" (2001). Hobbes based his theory of the state of nature on the idea that man has a natural right to do anything that he pleases in
...