The greater power of politics is within the grasp of people Essay

The greater power of politics is within the grasp of people - Essay Example The contract tradition gives verdict regarding what is natural and what is non-natural. Difference of thought among the three authors is most of the time overlooked due to the practice of grouping them together. The â€Å"Social Contract† as a theory was written in the 17th and 18th century. This theory advocated four important points. Firstly the state exists to serve the will of the people. Secondly people are the only source of government power. Thirdly the people are free to accept or refuse to give power to the government. Finally the document advocates for limited government, individual rights, and popular sovereignty. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were very prominent personalities, and both had a tremendous influence on the future of England. Despite these common personality traits, some of their beliefs are very different. For example, Hobbes believes that politics is based on the desire of power and the fear of death. He wants to create a powerful state and called it à ¢â‚¬Å"Leviathan†. (â€Å"A government to protect the people from one another to keep them in fear†) In the â€Å"Social Contract† Hobbes suggests that men should give up their rights to an authority to act for them, on their behalf. He said that sovereign authority had to be absolute in order to prevail over the fear of death in state of nature. From this it is clear that only reason for existence of the governments was the safety of the people. There are some strange and unusual statements regarding what is natural, what is non-natural and what is merely manufactured by humans. Thomas Hobbes writing is one of the most profound and influential political literature ever written. His Leviathan was written at the time of the English Civil War. The impact and result of Civil War had greatly influenced the ideas of Hobbes. He saw the power of the people in the war therefore he argued that the government’s power comes from consent of the people. This idea was wi dely used in the American Revolution. Thomas Hobbes begins his argument by stating the nature of humanity. No human is perfect and combination of different aspects. One man can be better in some regard than another man but in the end, their positive and negative aspects combine to make them equal. In the state of nature this equality brings fear to men. They begin to suspect and hate one another, which put them on the path of war. When men are at war morals, principles and fairness evaporate. The absence of a central governing authority compels men to act according to their own understanding. Hobbes states three main reasons that force a man to war: Competition, Fear, and Glory. "The first, make men invade for gain; the second, for safety; and the third for reputation". War goes on for a long time without any logic or reason. No matter how successful a war may be, there are always losses. In addition, if man is always at war, he loses civilization, resources, time, culture, and ethi cs. He starts depending on animal surviving instinct, always keeping his guard against any other man. All the war is for the safety and life but it is the fear of death which prevents men from constant involvement in war. There is little time for building and civilizing the world or to enjoy life and resources won in the war. The state of being in constant war, or fearing that there is war, takes up a lot or all of the time. In this