Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau while all being similar in many ways, also differentiate amongst themselves as well. This statement proves to be true when looking at several of there basic values, and principles. One of these basic principles is the belief that all the powers of government should be focused solely on providing for the good of the public. This basic principle which all of them have it in common, is applied, and flushed out differently by each one of them.
While looking at this basic idea that the goal of government should be to provide for the public good, I find it necessary to first show how each of these political theorists embrace this idea personally. Thomas Hobbes in his book The Leviathan talks about the great Leviathan which is synonymous with that of a common-wealth or state. He believes this Leviathan to be but an "artificial man; though of greater stature and strength than the Naturall, for whose protection and defense it was intended".(Hobbes p.1) What Hobbes I believe means by this is that the Leviathan, or government has been set up to protect and defend its public from harm. And if a government is supposed to protect and defend its public, it must be doing what it feels to be good for the public. Thereby showing how Hobbes Leviathan is set up to provide for the good of the public.
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John Locke in his book called The Second Treatise on Civil Government describes the government, or common-wealth as being a compilation of what its people have given up to the government. He feels that when you join this common-wealth you give up what the Law of Nature has given you before joining. That is "being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions; for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinite wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign Master, sent into this world by His order and about His business; they are His property, whose workmanship they are meant to last during His, not one another's pleasure.
