Hobbes and Locke had differing views on the primary object of government:
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Thomas Hobbes: Hobbes believed that the primary object of government was to maintain order and prevent chaos. In his work "Leviathan," he argued that in the state of nature, human life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" due to the self-interested and violent tendencies of individuals. Therefore, he advocated for a strong, centralized authority (a social contract) to ensure peace and security.
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John Locke: In contrast, Locke viewed the primary object of government as the protection of individual rights, including life, liberty, and property. In his work "Two Treatises of Government," he argued that governments are formed through the consent of the governed to safeguard these natural rights, and if a government fails in this duty, citizens have the right to revolt.
In summary, Hobbes emphasized order and security, while Locke focused on the protection of individual rights.