Notion of Revolution in Philosophical Thoughts - Essay Example

It will further determine if individual citizens are entitled to their judgments as to when it is appropriate to overthrow a government and highlight the differences between Hobbes’ and Locke’s views regarding revolutions.

Both Hobbes and Locke are in consensus that there exists a social contract between a government and its subjects. They also agree that a majority of a government’s subjects cannot endanger themselves intentionally. However, the variation in their perspectives of revolutionary situations stems from their different notions as to why social contracts exist and what, in the absence of social contracts, would be the state of nature (Thomassen, 691). Hobbes views the administration as a unitary governing institution made up of the authority granted to it by its subjects. Hobbes’ justification of a revolution is based on the presence of a continuous state of conflict between the subjects and the legislature. In his opinion, the absence of a social contract would culminate in incessant states of war, fear, and chaos occasioned by individuals pursuing self-interests. He believes that, under particular circumstances, the administration may be overthrown rightfully or, in the least, an attempted revolution may be directed at it. He bases his idea of “specific circumstances” on the fact that rational subjects would not harm themselves by being at war with an institution that draws its power from them, which is synonymous with fighting oneself. He supports his argument by stating that unless the subjects conflict with the legislature, the government still has much to offer (Ness, 202).

On the other hand, Locke believes that if the administration does not fulfill its part of the social contract, a revolution by its subjects is justified. He supports his argument by stating that when a majority of the subjects are endangered by the legislature, then that legislature is not representative of their interests and must be replaced. According to Locke, it is appropriate to stage a revolution when the government continuously abuses the rights of its people and consistently fails to protect their property (Boesche, 119). He opines that, under such circumstances, it is appropriate and worth taking the risks involved in a revolution. He further points out that property, justice, morality, and law exist before a legislature is formed and established and if that legislature contravenes the law of nature, it has knowingly put itself in conflict with its subjects. This is irrespective of whether the law is contravened via unavoidable or intentional circumstances because the government still earns itself a revolution (Ness, 198). By this point, the views of revolution held by Hobbes and those of Locke become increasingly distinctive as Hobbes tends to take a more conservative stand while Locke is seemingly active in terms of triggering a revolution.

According to the arguments of Hobbes and Locke, individual citizens have not been portrayed as being entitled to judge for themselves when it would be appropriate to stage a revolution. They both present revolution in light of a collective right and duty. It is not up to an individual, but the body or community of people to feel concerned to justify their right of revolting. Just like the government is supposed to represent and protect the rights of the majority of its citizens who give it power, a revolution will only be justified when the majority feels oppressed, not individual citizens (Thomassen, 683). After all, the social contract is between the government and the entire society, not an individual or a few of them. It is agreed by both Hobbes and Locke that although the government holds supreme power through its legislative arm, the people, subjects or community still retains its portion of supreme power that can alter or remove the legislature. This power held by the community is not vested in an individual, therefore, individual citizens are not entitled to judge for themselves when it would be appropriate to revolt.