Locke, Hobbes, Aquinas, and Machiavell Theory on...

In order for a political theorist to adequately theorize political structures, theories, strategies he must first deconstruct the basis of society. By first deconstructing society, the theorist is then able to reconstruct society and simultaneously elaborate on each component of society to then theorize on effective political structures. Locke, Hobbes, Aquinas, and Machiavelli each followed this process in creating their political theories and at the very center of each of their theories is a commentary on human conflict. Self-defense is the very first type of conflict between humans and is defined very differently by each theorist. The subject of self-defense renders the foundation of a political theory in that it illustrates a theorist’s†¦show more content†¦This statement in particular demonstrates Locke’s persistence for liberty in that the only type of government which man should enter is one in which he freely enters, not one in which he is born into. Thomas Hobbes was a political theorist writing in support of the monarch in the midst of a civil war. Hobbes’ Leviathan was published shortly following the civil war to highlight the need for a more powerful central authority in government. In his book Leviathan, Hobbes supports a system controlled by one or few who can effectively protect the citizens and allow them to live their daily lives. To understand why Hobbes theorizes a single head of government is advantageous, he first theorizes on human nature and conflict. Hobbes’ view of human nature is imbued with conflict and competition, more so than other political theorists. First, Hobbes theorizes that because of the changing nature of man, it is impossible for him to be continually satisfied and thus â€Å"all men [cannot] consent in the desire of almost any one and the same object†(Hobbes 448). From the inability of man to agree comes conflict in the search for power. Hobbes asserts that society is a struggle for power, and he defines power as a â€Å"means to obtain some future apparent good†(Hobbes 801). Power is the function of all