Hobbes had a similar view about the lack of human goodness in the human condition to Machiavelli. But Hobbes was more concerned about how a social contract between society in general and the ‘sovereign’ could lead to peace and harmony. He claims passions enflaming tribal conflict in his day could be sublimated by satiating our natural acquisitiveness in entrepreneurial pursuits protected by partially surrendering our freedom by obedience to its source, the ‘sovereign’ or parliamentary lawmakers. However, Locke argues freedom is a natural right and we need laws to protect our entrepreneurial pursuits from interference by others, including governments. But a society of individuals also thrives on values of tolerance and loyalty to the state, the beginnings of pluralism in his version of liberalism that nurtures capitalism.

1. 1.

   Fischer (1997, p. 86).

2. 2.

   We’ll see a contradiction to Hobbes’ assumptions about pre-historic humans when we look at Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s social contract which inspired French socialism and Karl Marx.

3. 3.

   Hobbes (1991, p. 185). (Hobbes lived 1588–1679, a relatively lengthy innings for the time.) I retain the original male pronouns of the texts. As we’ll see later in this chapter and Part IV, philosophical generalisations regarding ‘man’ don’t necessarily apply to women, or, indeed, all men.

4. 4.

   Ibid, p. 35. Italics added.

5. 5.

   Ibid, pp. 98–9.

6. 6.

   Ibid, p. 90.

7. 7.

   Locke (1975; reprint, 17th), para’s 95, 124. (Locke lived 1632–1704).

8. 8.

   Ibid, para’s 85, 123, 124, 173, 222. See also Locke (1937, p. 194).

9. 9.

   See for example Locke (1975), para’s 6, 22, and 87.

10. 10.

    Locke (1975), para 37. Locke’s First Treatise, published concurrently with the second, is basically a refutation of an earlier treatise of a less liberal theory of government written by Sir Robert Filmer (Patriarcha) published posthumously in 1680, 9 years before Locke’s.

11. 11.

    Ibid, para. 34.

12. 12.

    Ibid, para’s 31–32, 34, 48, 49, 50.

13. 13.

    Ibid, para. 50.

14. 14.

    Ibid, para. 41.

15. 15.

    Ibid, para. 14.

16. 16.

    Ibid, Bk. I, Ch. ii para. 25.

17. 17.

    Ibid, Ch. iii para. 25.

18. 18.

    Ibid, para. 95.

19. 19.

    Ibid, para. 77.

20. 20.

    Ibid, para. 5.

21. 21.

    Locke (1937, p. 180). Italics added.

22. 22.

    Fox Bourne (1876, Vol. I, p. 194).

23. 23.

    Locke (1937), in ‘A Letter Concerning Toleration,’ p. 181.

24. 24.

    Ibid, pp. 205–206.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Highton, VIC, Australia

   Lindsay Dawson

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