PSC 330 final paper:
Focus on the idea of Locke vs Hobbes human rights
Locke:
Feels like men are true to their word
Men should never have to relinquish their rights
Concept of rights shifts into concepts of powers
Hobbes:
Feels like men are in a constant state of war and fear
Relinquish rights to the government in order for protecting
Concept of rights shifts into concepts of powers
Rousseau looks at rights within the community
Read Hobbes very carefully
To Do:
Write a paragraph to a page outlining the topic, focusing it
Re read Locke
Re read Hobbes
Consider Rousseau
Hobbes, UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT of RIGHTS
What Locke thinks a right is
Similarities and differences
Teachers Response to Proposal:
H&L — Rousseau could be used in a supporting role.
one difference between Rousseau and Locke is that Locke believes that rights precede the state, while Rousseau believes that the state is necessary to establish rights.
With respect to H&L: contrast their states of nature (locke has both a state of nature and a state of war); do emphasize the difference in their concepts of rights; contrast H’s imperative of safety/security with L’s emphasis on justice and values.
You might play with H’s sense of expectation vs. L’s sense of trust.
Careful on Loke’s sense of rights and powers — certainly Hobbes has that perspective. Locke’s is a bit more ambiguous.
What about their similar and different views of political legitimacy — consent, representation, authority.
What is the role of government for each? Who is the sovereign?
Pleanty here to work with.
