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John Locke was a 17th century English philosopher who is considered one of the most influential figures in the development of liberal political thought. He is best known for his work "Two Treatises of Government" (1689), in which he outlined his political theory of natural rights, limited government, and consent of the governed. He believed that all individuals are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights. He also believed that if a government fails to do so, the people have the right to overthrow it. His ideas were influential in the development of constitutional democracy and the separation of powers.
Thomas Hobbes was a 17th century English philosopher who is best known for his work "Leviathan" (1651), in which he outlined his political theory of absolute sovereignty and the social contract. He believed that in a state of nature, life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" and that individuals would naturally enter into a social contract with a sovereign ruler in order to escape this state. The ruler, in turn, would have absolute power to maintain order and security. Hobbes' ideas were influential in the development of authoritarian and absolutist political systems, and his belief in the need for a strong central authority to maintain order has been influential in the development of modern political thought.