Thinkers: Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau

These three names are favourite and a cliche in any exam related to Political Science and every student of pol science basically knows about them. But the problem is we get confuse in the examination hall. The effort here is to address the issue of confusion and aiding in quick revision. 

N.B. not claiming that it is all comprehensive and comprehending. I might have missed some points so you must update it; and I will also try the same. For any further clarification leave a feed back in the comment box.

Nuances	Hobbes	Locke	Rousseau
Books	Leviathan, element of law natural and politic	Two treaties on liberty, Letters on tolerance	Social Contract, Discourse on origin of inequality, Emile
Influenced by	Civil war	Glorious revolution	Unsecure childhood
State of Nature	-Pre social and pre political- -everyman againdt everyman	Pre political; society already there.	Pre political
Human nature	Selfish, brutish, short and nasty	Essentially Good and cooperative	Noble savage
Contract	One dimensional i.e only state created & -Hypothetical	Two dimensional: both state and govt created & -Historical	One dimensional & hypothetical& Political contract- similar to locke
Type of sovereign	Indivisible and inalienable (leviathan) - Not a part to contract	Trust - Is a part	Same as hobbes but his sovereign was General will i.e. the people themselves.
Individual	Surrenders all their rights except life to life	Except Natural rights -Life, liberty and property Property he regrds as most imptnt.	All rts to a general will(GW), GW is will for the good of all; it may represent will of single person also
Minority	Live under majority	Their consent are taken- in book letters on tolerance.	General will
Some Other Points
	For Hobbes: Contract was binding on all future generation	Only for present. Consent of every generation has to be sought.	-
	Scientific  and mechanical Materialism, Influenced by physcs- Galileo, kepler.	Gave Labour theory of property	Proponent of Popular sovereignty;  Critcised civilization; Concept of Forced freedom,
	Secular outlook	secular	-

 

Next post will be on Bentham and J S mills.