Thomas Hobbes and John Locke are two political philosophers; their theories were

about the formation of the society and what the social contract means. Their theories will help us to understand their views on the role and purpose of the government and how their response will be to acts of terrorism and national security. On the one hand, it is important to keep high level security sanctions and to provide safety for the country, but on the other hand, facing the reality that the war on terrorism is not likely to be a temporary situation of war, the decisions that the government takes, affect and restrict people in their liberty and right of freedom in a long term.

Doubtless, both thinkers have different opinions on human nature and state of n

Consequently, in this time of insecurity, the role of government is by any means to protect the society, but the necessary security measures should be in such a respect that doesn’t hinder the people from their natural rights. Wartime sacrifices civil liberties, therefore it is important to find a proper balance between liberty and security. As we all are living with this problem worldwide, everybody should consider for himself how the government should respond to the new threat of terrorism by avoiding the easy way of thinking.

In fact, Hobbes believed that a society, is be better governed as a monarchy, because he felt a country needed an authority figure to provide direction and leadership. Because Hobbes believed that people are only supporting their own interest, he thought that democracy would never work. As people enter the society by agreement, they have no rights to change the government (the desire to change it might be derived from the people’s natural state to be at war). The only time when people can change the government is when the government does not protect them any longer, which was actually the role of government. As fear is the reason why people seek security, the fear motive is also used to keep people in control by the government. In addition, limits must be put to freedom and individual rights.

Thus, they have to live with continually fear from each other. People have the instinctive tendency to protect themselves from destructions and may do anything they consider necessary for being secure.

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