Philosophy Thomas Hobbes Discussion

Answer one of the following:

1. Hobbes and Locke give different versions of the social contract theory. Hobbes, who had lived through the English Civil War, pays close attention to our limitations. We are quite selfish, he notes. Given this, Hobbes argues that we need some entity (e.g. a king) outside of the law to enforce laws. By contrast, Locke holds that we do not need any such enforcer. Rather, we can establish a representative government. Sure, this sounds nice, but such a representative government has problems too. Which form of government (i.e. monarchy or democracy) is more plausible, and why?

2. Who is right about human nature, Hobbes or Locke? Remember, there are many parts here: mind, freedom, ethics, etc. So who is right, and to what extent?

3. Berkeley is an empiricist, however an odd one. Namely, he argues that the world outside us (and even inside us) does not exist. So there are no mountains, skin, or even brains. Again, there are no planets, fish, or water. Our ideas represent only themselves. We construct reality itself, at every moment. What are the arguments for this? Do you agree, or not?

Importantly, some of these views are pretty radical. Berkeley, for instance, is saying that your world is your creation. If so, why bother to go to the doctor, travel, or care about others? After all, all that is not real.