Dan Hebel
Danny Fleischer
Paul Davis
Danny: We are here today to interview two brilliant English thinkers.
Dan: We have Thomas Hobbes and John Locke who have set fourth ideas that have become key to the enlightenment period.
Danny: Thomas Hobbes, could you give us a little background of where you were born and raised?
Hobbes: I was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire in 1588. I was the son of a clergyman and I was educated at Magdalen Hall, University of Oxford.
Danny: After college, what did you do with your life? How did you keep yourself busy?
Hobbes: Well after college, I took up tutoring teaching William Cavendish. Soon after that began, I traveled through France and Italy discussing the physical sciences with top philosophers. I met several leading thinkers including Galileo and Rene Descartes.
Danny: From unknown sources, I hear that you have written some popular works of literature?
Hobbes: Yes, I have written some works of literature including Little Treatise which outlines my theory of motion, De Cive, a statement on my theory of government, and my best known work of literature, Leviathan. Leviathan argues that people are naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish. If people aren�t given a tough government, people would fight, rob, and oppress one another. People need to be controlled.
Danny: Well then, how can we escape a violent life without an oppressive government?
Hobbes: To escape the violent life without an oppressive government would be almost impossible. I think people should enter into a social contract.
Danny: Well, what is a social contract?
Hobbes: A social contract is an agreement by which people give up the state of nature for an organized society.
Danny: So how do you think the social contract could be implemented?
Hobbes: I believe that a powerful government can only implement an orderly society and social contract.
Danny: So wouldn�t your opinion on government be kind of like a monarchy?
Hobbes: Yes, I support a government with absolute monarchy, which could impose order and give complete obedience to the ruler.
Danny: Thank you for coming in, and sharing your thoughts with us. Here is Dan to interview another enlightened thinker.
Dan: Thank you Danny, here is John Locke, one of the thinkers in the Enlightenment period.
Dan: So John Locke, Tell us a little bit about where you were born and when?
John: I was born in the village of Wrington, Somerset, on August 29, 1632. I attended Oxford College from 1661 to 1664 where I lectured on Greek and moral philosophy
Dan: what are your views on life and human nature in general?
John: I have an optimistic view of human nature. I think that people are made with ethics and can be rational. I believe in empiricism which means that I think that the understanding of things is obtained by personal experience and facts. I don�t think things just happen for no reason but there is always a reasonable explanation.
Dan: So what you�re saying is people are basically good, the opposite view of our friend Thomas Hobbes?
John: Yes, I believe people are basically good hearted and also I would like to say that all people are born with natural rights.
Dan: What exactly do these natural rights consist of?
John: These natural rights include the right to live, liberty and ownership of property.
Dan: Could you explain your book �Two Treatises of Government�?
John: In that book I state that people form governments to protect these natural rights. I believe that the best way to protect these rights is to from a government with limited power and should be accepted by the people. I also believe that if a government fails to complete these things the people have the right to rebel and go against the government. In this book I am completely against an absolute monarchy and went to the Parliament side in there fight against the Stuarts.
Dan: Well Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, thank you for your time and sharing of your thoughts.
