Human civilization
Human civilization envisions a utopian world where people can live in peace and perfect harmony in all activities. However, contrary to these beliefs, human beings seem to be always at conflict due to the various issues that are fundamental to their lives, such as political ideologies, traditions, ethnicity, cultural background, and natural resources, among others. Most importantly, Locke and Hobbes provide differing visions of humanity’s ability to free and peaceful states.
Locke believes that men are naturally free and equal as an essential aspect of validating political governments’ existence, which take some of the peoples’ rights to ensure people enjoy their property, liberty, and lives (Lobster, 2010). Essentially, people sacrifice their natural freedom for civil security (Lobster, 2010). Conversely, Hobbes views man as a machine that operates based on the stimuli around them, identifying the innate nature of humans. The Hobbesian view considers the individualistic concept of people in a society and the random nature of events around them. The “Right of Nature” highlights humankind’s need for power and social strife in a person’s quest for a pleasurable life.
Hobbes’ civil society is similar to that of Locke’s state of nature, which explains the crucial relationship between power and liberty. According to Hobbes and Locke, the state of nature is the contest between people in a society, each seeking their satisfaction, which leads to social conflicts (Lobster, 2010). More so, Hobbes and Locke’s perception of civil society acknowledges the importance of willingness and mutual consent of all persons included in a civil society. The basic doctrines of theses philosophers are the principles of libertinism, which dictate people’s free will and collective freedom in a society.
Freedom is an essential aspect of a peaceful society based on Hobbes’ and Locke’s political principles. Essentially, a free society is natural to the nature of a man, and social conflicts arise from the deprivation of freedom due to selfish and domineering interests.