Final answer:
Thomas Hobbes differed from philosophers like John Locke in that he held a pessimistic view of human nature, advocating for an absolute monarchy to maintain order in the face of a chaotic state of nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher, is distinct from other philosophers, notably John Locke, in his perspectives on human nature and the role of government. Hobbes believed that humans in a state of nature would live in a condition defined by the survival of the fittest—a war of all against all. This leads to life being 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.' Consequently, Hobbes argued that individuals enter into a social contract and surrender their rights to an absolute monarch to ensure peace and stability. In contrast to Hobbes' pessimistic view, Locke regarded the state of nature as one of freedom and equality with natural rights to life, liberty, and property and advocated for a government that protects these rights.