No two political philosophers think alike. Political philosophers, depending on the time they lived, will have an outlook similar to that of the time period. Views can compare or contrast, that which reflect on a philosophers view of the State of Nature, man, the Civil State and power of the sovereign. Two prime examples of differences verses similarities in political philosophers is Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. .
Thomas Hobbes lived from 1588-1679; he resided in England during the reign of Henry VII, who was a monarch, followed by Elizabeth I and James (VI) I. During this time the Church of England was established and created for political reasons with no central religious leader, after this was the Stuart Dynasty, which was accompanied by religious problems. Finally a new government arose called Commonwealth with a dictatorship of Oliver Cromwell and Charles II. At this time, there was a period if chaos, killing, the Civil War and anarchy. This is what greatly affected Hobbes writings. During this time new rulers emerged and it was known as the Age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. At this time, a scientific awakening affected Hobbes; he gained more knowledge of political philosophy. He looked up to and worked with Galileo and Newton. .
In the Leviathan, Hobbes major political philosophy work, he established political theory on a scientific basis. Hobbes sees the State of Nature as conditions of man before any state or civil society or government existed. Hobbes sees man in the State of Nature as equal and evil. Man is equal in the state of nature, he states "There is no reason why any man trusting to his own strength should conceive himself made by nature above others, they are equals who can do equal things one against the other" (Hobbes 760-61). Hobbes also put in plain words that men are evil resulting in their actions towards one another, "All men in the State of Nature have a desire and will to hurt" (Hobbes 761).
