".
(Hobbes, The Leviathan).
Fortunately man is endowed with reason which in turn enables him to recognize his problem and ultimately discover a solution to said problem. This is why Hobbes" found it necessary to transfer power to exercise their wills to a sovereign power whose sole obligation is to achieve what he was appointed for, which is civil peace. To achieve this the sovereigns power must be absolute, this means that the sovereign has the power to legislate, judge, and execute. The only exception to this is that no man must obey a command which endangers his life, for this contradicts the sole purpose of the sovereign. Hobbes also argues that there must be some form of visible power from the sovereign. If not, then people will not listen, as there will be no fear of punishment of any sort.
In my opinion, Hobbes" state of nature is an anarchical one. In this state of nature, he tells us that men are pushed by an unquenchable thirst for power and that there is no such thing as true peace without a sovereign power to tell people what they can and cannot do. I agree with his view to a small extent. While some men live in a constant state of war, for the most part men are in are in a constant state of reason. This describes very well Locke's argument. Like Hobbes, Locke believed that all men are born free and equal. However, unlike Hobbes, Locke also believes that all men are born in a state of reason in place of war. According to Locke, since all men are equal, then none should be able to take another's life, health, liberty, or possessions. .
"The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges everyone: and reason which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions-.
(Locke Chap. 2 Pg. 6).
The main argument in Locke's theory is that all men have both rights and responsibility.