2. Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679
❖ During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that
conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man.
❖ I put for the general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after
power, that ceaseth only in death.
❖ The condition of man... is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.
❖ The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than
the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them.
❖ No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent
death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
3.
4. ❖ a man be willing, when others are so too… to lay down this
right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty
against other men as he would allow other men against
himself.
5. John Locke 1632-1704
❖ The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every
one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but
consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm
another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.
❖ And because it may be too great a temptation to human frailty, apt to
grasp at power, for the same persons, who have the power of making laws,
to have also in their hands the power to execute them, whereby they may
exempt themselves from obedience to the laws they make, and suit the
law, both in its making, and execution, to their own private advantage.
❖ As usurpation is the exercise of power which another has a right to, so
tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right, which nobody can have a
right to.
