Hobbes and Locke on the Evolution of the Civil Society Term Paper

Hobbes and Locke on the Evolution of the Civil Society - Term Paper ExampleTheir views are key for international political thought, because they influenced present international political economy theories and helped paved the debate on political ideology, particularly shaping the discourse on the opinion of civil society and the rise of nation-states vis-a-vis civil society. Locke and Hobbes have diverging views on the alliance amidst the government and civil society, as well as the notions of slavery, sovereignty, direction of international politics, and peace, but they share somewhat similar beliefs in the role of education and the state of nature of humanity. Locke and Hobbes have diverging views on the relationship between the government and civil society. Hobbes believes that Europe has changed as a civil society through the evolution of the loving contract. The Commonwealth only exists because of the Covenant between the sight and the government or the state. Hobbes says in the Leviathan Essence of the Common-wealth which (to define it) is One Person, of whose Acts a great Multitude, by mutual Covenants whizz with another, have made themselves each one the Author, to the end he may use the strength and inwardness of them all, as he shall think expedient, for their Peace and Common Defense. This statement shows that the main intention of the government is to ensure peace and national defense. The covenant or complaisant contract, however, for Hobbes is absolute, where the state incorporates the wills of the individuals the state is the body and individuals are just parts of it The only flair to erect such a Common Power is to confer all their power and strength upon one Man, or upon one Assembly of men, that may centralize all their Wills, by plurality of voices, unto one Will (Hobbes). This statement underscores that the social contract binds all individuals. On the one hand, it enforces plurality of wills. On the other hand, it means the pre cedence of the state over civil society. Locke confirms the same views as Hobbes and argues that Europe also changed because of the need for the social contract. Unlike Hobbes, Locke believes that people take part of social contracts merely to help adjudicate disputes between individuals or groups. He says And this is done, where-ever any number of men, in the state of nature, enter into society to make one people, one body politic, under one supreme governmentto make laws for him, as the public good of the society shall require (Locke, Two Treatises on Government). From here, it is clear that Locke believes that it is the people or civil society that legitimizes the state while for Hobbes, it is the government that legitimizes the existence of a peaceful civil society. My criticism of Hobbes is that he overlooks that the people make the government. The social contract binds the people, but the people can unbind some laws too in order to make the contract fit their changing needs an d issues. I agree more with Locke, who reminds governments of their servitude to the civil society. It does not mean, however, that the civil society will also abuse its rights and fully void the social contract without due justifications. Locke and Hobbes diverge on the notion of sovereignty. Locke argues that civil society precedes the state. For him, it is society that provides the state its essential source of legitimacy. He contends that when the rulers fail to encourage interests, independence,