Philosophy
The Social Contract Theory of Hobbes and Locke
Quick fact
Hobbes wrote his social contract theory during the English Civil War, while Locke wrote partly to justify the Glorious Revolution; both used the same idea to reach opposite conclusions about government power.
Why this is interesting
Why do we obey our government? Two philosophers, Hobbes and Locke, answered this question in opposite ways—and their ideas still shape debates about liberty and authority today.