Tuesday, December 14, 2010

References for this project

Sources:
Ebenstein, William, and Alan Ebenstein. Great Political Thinkers: Plato to the Present. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2000.
"Locke Versus Hobbes." James's Liberty Files . http://jim.com/hobbes.htm (accessed December 13, 2010). 

Somerville, J.P.. "Hobbes' Politics." History Department, University of Wisconsin. http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/367/367-092.htm (accessed December 13, 2010).

Image: http://history2.professorpage.info/John%20Locke%20and%20Thomas%20Hobbes_files/image015.jpg

Follow up to the conversation...

Hobbes: Well, that was a great conversation.
Locke: Certainly, it really was. We got a lot in!
Hobbes: For the people that follow this blog, maybe we should recap what we talked about.
Locke: Sounds great!

Hobbes: Well, in that video, we mentioned a few topics. First off, we talked about what a state of nature is, and we disagreed on what one can do in this state of nature.
Locke: Right. Then we moved onto talking about a social contract. We both base our views off of these contracts, but clearly, as we discussed, interpret this contract in different ways.
Hobbes: True. Next, we brought up what the role of a state is, and what a ruler can and can't do. This is where we really disagreed!
Locke: Finally, we moved into discussing private property. What an interesting topic that was. It seemed like we came to a bit of a concencus on this topic: in some circumstances, private property can be beneficial.

Hobbes: Well, it was great talking, look forward to continuing the conversation! Stay tuned for more on this blog!!
Locke: Awesome, can't wait. 

Monday, December 13, 2010

Hobbes and Locke Meet to Have a Discussion!

Xtranormal Video:

The conversation continues...


Hobbes: Yet when the manager was confronted, well then by God!!, he seemed unwilling to help the woman! He merely avoided the issue as it was of no benefit to himself! Or perhaps he did not want to upset either of his patrons. If the latter be the case, then I am astonished. As the highest official of the company, it is his task to ensure the safety of his customers!

Locke: Ahh yes, but did you yourself not say that it is merely the physical safety that is to be protected, and not the happiness? God has no say here, as we as both reasonable men can surely comprehend. Furthermore, the people must have more say in their representation, as they create the position of power. You yourself did in fact declare that the sovereign is not beholden to the people, so why was it needed for him to intervene? Had either patron been so unhappy or threatened to the point that they felt in danger of self-incrimination or even physical harm, than by all means, either should stand aloud and blazon their respective message of equality and liberties! However, such was not the case.

Hobbes: While I agree that if harm was lingering, either could have left the scene. Yet for a mere elder woman to feel threatened by the primal evils of this animalistic creature is simply appalling. I could see on the look of her face that she indeed was scared and felt threatened. At such point, the manager should have interfered, for the woman did in fact, by attending this theatre and abiding by his set instructions, forfeit her rights to enable his power, and a potential threat on her safety was present.

Locke: My friend, while I am still rather optimistic for the hope of human kind, I would truly like to continue to explore and to debate with a man of such stature and depth such as yourself. For such an important conversation to take place, one that will influence history and its unfolding paths, I see no place more suiting for such a transcending topic than the moon! Shall we say, roughly tea time?

Hobbes: Quite right good sir. . . let us meet on the moon to discuss our ideas further!!
I will see you soon! 

Let the conversation begin!

The scene: a random internet blog (probably the first), 1690. Locke and Hobbes begin to get into a bit of an argument. The posts play out as follows:



Hobbes first posts

Today I witnessed a young man in line at the theater refuse to save a woman’s spot in front of him. Such blatant disregard for morality merely bolsters the fact that humanity is naturally bad and competitive.