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Compare And Contrast Thomas Hobbes And Tom Locke

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The age of enlightenment was a philosophical peak in history that set a course for the rest of time. Many different ideas were brought about that shaped the way we live to this day, especially here in the states. Two philosophers in particular affected the United States of America; Thomas Hobbes and Tom Locke. Both of these philosophers pasts formed their philosophy and the ideas they had, which affected the government of their time, and our government today. Hobbes and Locke had very different upbringings and backgrounds, which led them to having very different points of view on life. Hobbes was born on April 5, 1588 in Westport, Wiltshire. Hobbes was surrounded by the glory of riches and fame that comes with the idea of monarchy. He lived a lavish …show more content…

Hobbes was hired by the Cavendish family to tutor the earls of Devonshire. While working for the Cavendish family, Hobbes wrote his famous book Leviathan. In this book he discussed the idea of ‘state of nature’ which is the concept that man without rule is chaos. His idea that monarchy is the only logical form of rule was influenced by his surroundings. Locke, Hobbes’s opposing philosopher, was born years later on August 29, 1632, in Wrington, Somerset, England. Contrary to Hobbes, Locke believed that people had rights and that a democracy is the most logical form of governing. Similar to Hobbes, his surroundings and upbringing affected his philosophy. Lokke was raised in a puritan home, and his father had high connections in the government which gave him the access to a good education. He attended Oxford Christ Church where he majored logic and metaphysics, as well as the classical languages. These classes later affected his philosophy and led him to favor democracy. After college he was hired as a personal physician for Lord Ashley, who was to become Earl

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