Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two main political philosophers during the seventeenth century. Hobbes is the well known author of “Leviathan,” and Locke is the author of “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.” In their essays, both men address the characteristics of man, natural law, and the purpose and structure of government. The two men have very different opinions of the characteristics of man. Hobbes sees man as being evil, whereas Locke views man in a much more optimistic light. They both agree that all men are equal according to natural law. However, their ideas of natural law differ greatly. Hobbes sees natural law as a state of war in which “every man is a enemy to every man.” Locke on the other hand, sees natural law as a state of equality and freedom. Locke therefore believes that government is necessary in order to preserve natural law, and on the contrary, Hobbes sees government as necessary in order to control natural law.
Hobbes and Locke see mankind’s natural characteristics in two very different ways. Hobbes describes the life of man as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short…”. He obviously does not think very highly man. He also says that it is hard for men to “believe there be many so wise as themselves,” expressing his discontent with how selfish men are. Conversely, Locke views mankind’s natural characteristics much more optimistically. Locke sees men as being governed “according to reason.” He perceives men to be thinking, capable individuals that can coexist peacefully. Hobbes and Locke disagree on mankind’s natural characteristics, but the degree of their disagreement grows much larger with respect to natural law.
The main thing that Hobbes and Locke can seem to agree on, with respect to natural law, is that all men are ...