John Locke and Thomas Hobbes both agreed that people are born with certain natural rights.
In the mid-17th century, two philosophers, John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, developed the idea of natural rights. They believed that people were born with certain rights that they did not have to earn or prove themselves worthy of having. Both philosophers believed that human beings had a natural right to life, liberty and property. They also agreed that these rights were inalienable — you could not give them up or transfer them to another person.
Locke believed that governments exist for the sake of protecting people’s natural rights, which include life, liberty and property. He believed that if governments fail in their duty to protect these rights, then people have a right to overthrow their government and form a new one with those who will protect their rights better.
Hobbes disagreed with Locke on this point because he thought that human nature was inherently evil and selfish. Therefore, he thought it was necessary for all members of society to give up some of their freedoms so they could be controlled by an absolute ruler who would ensure peace through fear of punishment by death or imprisonment if they tried anything else but obedience to his commands.
