Skip to main content

HOBBES AND LOCKE ON THE STATE

HOBBES AND LOCKE ON THE STATE

Onyeukwu Uchechukwu
Department of Political and Administrative Studies,
University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
uchechukwu.onyeukwu@uniport.edu.ng

ABSTRACT
A fundamental question which has continued to occupy eminent space in political science is; what is the state?  Political thinkers are not united on one answer; whether it is on the origin of the state, the nature of the state or the end for which the state is established. The result of differences in opinion about what the state should be is that there are countless theories of the state. This paper examines how Hobbes and Locke conceptualise the state. It compares and contrasts the central elements of the Hobbesian and Lockean states. Using the comparative approach, the work finds that Hobbes and Locke agree that the state is the result of an agreement by humans who hitherto lived in a state of nature. It identifies that although Hobbes prefers an absolute state and Locke chooses a minimal state, their doctrines suggest that the end of the state, inter alia, is to ensure peace and security of lives and property.

Key Words: Hobbes, Locke, Absolute, Minimal, State

INTRODUCTION
          Thomas Hobbes and John Locke are social contract theorists. They recognise that before men agreed to govern themselves, they existed in a state of nature. The state of nature is that condition humans were in before the emergence of government. The history of the world is thus divided into two periods – the period before the state and the period after. Men realised that it was by refraining from harming others that their own lives were safe. They agreed to jointly set up a government – of one person or group of persons. Everybody submitted his right of self-preservation to the general will for protection.

          Hobbes’s state of nature is that of constant war of every man against every man. In this state, the laws of the jungle prevail, where only the fittest survive. Humans are naturally competitive and differ in their wants, needs, desires and inclinations. And because the desires of men are insatiable and the resources are limited, contradictions and war arise among them. This condition is made manifest due to the absence of a common power to keep men in awe (Hobbes, 1985).

Read more>>> 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SCIENCE TEACHER EDUCATION: A PANACEA FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPLICATION FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHER EDUCATION

SCIENCE TEACHER EDUCATION: A PANACEA FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPLICATION FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHER EDUCATION Aliyu M. Waziri, Udonsa A. Ezekiel and 3 Esaduwha S. Obukohwo 1&2 Department of Mathematics and 3 Department of Physics Federal College of Education, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria ABSTRACT In this paper, mathematics is used for describing, predicting and communicating climate change. We used the perspective of critical mathematics education to examine how mathematics is constructed in reporting climate change. We took into consideration the importance of mathematical modelling. Our discussion is referenced by a newspaper report and a policy document. In ourargument, human mathematical activity and the role of human activity in causing climate change are all largely invisible.  Mathematics education has an important role to play in making the invisible visible. Keywords: Climate, Mathematics Education, Mathematics Modelling.
Post a Comment
Read more

A SURVEY OF THE AWARENESS OF VACCINATING LOCAL CHICKENS (Gallus domesticus) WITHIN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF PLATEAU STATE

A SURVEY OF THE AWARENESS OF VACCINATING LOCAL CHICKENS ( Gallus domesticus) WITHIN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF PLATEAU STATE Biyal, D.H., Deshi, M.B; and Gochuk, Z.D. Plateau State College of Agriculture, Garkawa, Plateau State, Nigeria ABSTRACT The research was conducted to access the level of awareness and use of vaccines on local chickens (Gallus domesticus) within the central zone of Plateau State. Five (5) districts were randomly selected, one from each of the five LGA’s that make up the central zone of Plateau State. 400 questionnaires were distributed, filled and retrieved from the 5 LGAs, each with 80. The data was analyzed using simple percentage. Result showed that 177 (44.25%) of the respondents were poor subsistent farmers and civil servants make up only 80 (20.00%) that raise local chickens. One hundred and seventy nine, 179 (44.75%) of the respondents have been into it between 11 – 20 years, and those over 20 years were only 84% (21.00%). Only 84 (21.00%) out of t...
Post a Comment
Read more

PORT HARCOURTAVIATION INDUSTRY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: EMERGING TREND OF LIVELIHOOD APPROACH IN IKWERRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

PORT HARCOURTAVIATION INDUSTRY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: EMERGING TREND OF LIVELIHOOD APPROACH IN IKWERRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA Eze Wosu Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences University of Port Harcourt,Port Harcourt, Nigeria Email : ewosu@yahoo.com ABSTRACT The study examined the livelihood conditions of the Ikwerre people since the establishment of the Port Harcourt Aviation Industry in Omagwe community. It was argued that the Port Harcourt Aviation was supposed to be a blessing to the indigene and inhabitants of the areas; rather it became more of a resource curse. Rather than enhancing the living condition of the people, it had transformed the socio-economic, political and cultural lives of the Omagwe communities into a state of abject poverty.
Post a Comment
Read more