PHILOSOPHERS WHO INFLUENCED THE

DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY LIBERALISM

Julie McMurray

Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679

Hobbes believed humans were selfish and if the selfishness was left unchecked it would result in chaos and harm to everyone, because of his experience in civil war he seen how people become selfish. Thomas Hobbes believed that everyone should give up their sovereignty and giving their power to a protecting ruler then everyone would be secure. Hobbes visions for the future were that humans will be kept safe by the ruler but they would have to give up their individual sovereignty.

John Locke 1632-1704 Locke deeply opposed authoritarianism, he believed humans were meant to function as individuals and not run by a government. The reason people are in society was the preservation of their own property. Locke believed individuals had the right to use their own knowledge to make decisions for themselves. He thought government should be directly accountable to people. Locke's visions for the future included the concept of private property and individual decision making .

Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1712-1778

Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed humans were born good but later corrupted by evils of society. In his later life he wished to live a simple life. He believed people in society should try to be natural. All citizens should be committed to general good even if it means acting against their individual interests. His visions for the future were that liberty and equality would be promoted. The group would be favored over the individuals life.