This essay is great if one simply needs to know the basics of what these three political philosophers wrote about--maybe to be prepared for a class discussion, but really, it has many flaws.There are certain assumptions made here that are simply not true. For example, the author writes that Hobbes' choice of government is the type that has people vote on a sovereign in order to protect our rights. For one, Hobbes was a supporter of absolute monarchy! Two, the author doesn't realize to what extent the protectorship goes. This isn't really what "our" governments are like today. Hobbes proposed an aboslute monarchy that, yes, provided protection, but one which could not be contested on any other grounds. So long as you were kept alive, nothing else mattered. Not your property, not your opinions on the sovereign...This final decision on what kind of government is best is really inconsistent with his other preferences. Look out for false assumptions--especially the basics on the social contract, covenant, or compact--which is not an agreement between the governed and governors!! (It's an agreement between individuals in all cases--don't confuse civil society and government institutions).
- 26/03/2004
- 12:01:18
- Score: 2 out of 2 people found this comment useful.