I believe Locke's theory is a substantial improvement on that proposed by Hobbes. Locke correctly identifies the two major weaknesses I see in Hobbes' theory. They are centred on his believes that man is innately selfish, or egoistic, and so is motivated solely by self-interest, and also his believe that man can live stably and securely under the sovereign leadership of a monarch. He fails to convince me on either of these points. Despite the fact that I see much to be praised about Locke's theory, I feel that there are certain frailties that should be addressed, and I will conclude this essay by those that I feel are most significant.
Essential too much of Locke's theory is his belief that living within the 'state of nature,' we have certain 'rights,' which he insists should be transferred to the societal or governmental level. Locke provides little evidence to offer support for the significance he places on these 'rights,' and the evidence he does provide is certainly not totally convincing. Concerning opinion on social contract, Locke fails to identify his position on the double contract, and seems to tactfully dodge this difficult issue. Although certainly not nearly as individualist as Hobbes, Locke's theory does seem to lean in favour of the individual, rather than towards the genuine concerns of the group as a whole. …
