Enlightenment: Political Philosophy and Thomas Hobbes Essay

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During the 17th century, philosophers and scientists of the Enlightenment era began to elaborate a new vision of the earth and universe because of new spirits of curiosity, findings of new species of animals and vegetables, and increased sense of exploration in all genres. These people started communicating with each other which allowed progress in spreading information in Europe. Some key thoughts of philosophers were the new ideas about power, authority, governance, and law which sparked reform in the political structure and more constitutions. Two well known political philosophers were Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. They had different views of politics, the citizen’s role in society, human rights, and how they promoted the ideas of Nationalism which is how they impacted the world. Their ideas conflicted each other which drew different opinions from the noble and common. Thomas Hobbes was an English political philosopher who supported royal absolutism. He believed that people are usually in conflict with each other and have difficult lives. This causes people to trade their freedom to a ruler in order for the ruler to maintain law and order with absolute power. The citizen's role is to enter a social contract which they exchange their freedom and some of their rights for security. However, he thought that power is from the people. He promoted his beliefs through a book named Leviathan. English philosopher John Locke discovered the natural laws of politics. Locke believed that a baby's mind is a tabula rasa (blank tablet) They baby will have his or her traits and personality developed depending on the surrounding. Therefore, Locke believed that our surroundings should show political freedom in order to develop a productive person. At this time, England had absolute monarchy which held tight centralized government functions. Locke believed that all humans all had their certain natural right to life, liberty, and property which is what divine right theories didn't support; it supported absolute monarchy and advocated constitutional government on the grounds that sovereignty resides in the people rather than the state or its rulers. Many colonists of England were inspired by this philosophy and later on rebelled against England and set up their own government which turned England from monarchy to nationalism. He promoted his beliefs in his writing named Two Treatises of Government. Thomas Hobbes' philosophies gained less support than John Locke's philosophies because of their differences. Thomas
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