John Locke viewed human nature as imperfect and insecure. He believed people are good and that everyone was well intentioned. Locke believed human nature lacked the of cooperation people and this was because inadequate common laws. People should honor their obligations and obey laws set be the government. Locke believed the government was a social contract that should be agreed to and abided by its people. This government was to be run by a central authority who would represent the majority. Locke believed that the will of the people, natural rights to life, liberty, or property shouldn’t be limited by the government. If those who governed did not mean well or did not have the will of the people in mind, they would lose its legitimacy. Locke believed people should only revolt if these legislators were to take away this way of life and the people would judge when this revolution is needed. Locke believed in a government for the people by the people, which is why he influenced so much of Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Hobbes viewed human nature as cut-throat and characteristically bad. Hobbes believed the only motivation for dealing with others was their own self-interest and seen everyone as an egoist. He believed people made decisions to benefit and serve themselves. This would cause people’s own interests to conflict with those of others and cause society to live in fear and insecurity. Hobbes had an absolutist view on government and democracy. Hobbes believed that “good” and “evil” referred to our own desires and aversions. He believed that notions of right and wrong or justice and injustice had no place in the state of nature. In his view, he believed the commonwealth should share power with those who are governed because he believed in an equality among the people. War would occur when there was no common power or Leviathan, to keep them in check. If this war were to occur, Hobbes believed everyone would be against everyone and every man had the right to everything.
Locke and Hobbes did not see human nature in the same way. Their views were almost opposites. Unlike Hobbes, Locke did not believe that all people were egotistical or motivated in their own self-interests. Hobbes view of human nature was negative and was fueled by the belief that self-interest and this inequality among people would cause permanent conflict. Hobbes saw this conflict as war and thought there was no other means to end. Locke viewed human nature more positively and believed that this conflict did not mean war. Locke thought that an ego makes a person bias. Locke believed that when we act on those selfish desires, we attack the peace of other’s property and person.
I think Locke’s view of nature is more accurate. I believe that people are well intentioned, but they usually are led astray by their egos. If these selfish ways were to be checked then those struggles with powers wouldn’t exist. I agree with Locke that the government and common laws should be obeyed. Only when they government abuses its power or when they no longer have the best interest of its people in mind should they be overthrown. I don’t believe that people only act in self-interest, the relationship or interactions can be mutually beneficial. I unfortunately see human nature as cut-throat but, it doesn’t have to be that way.
