Hobbes on Power & Equality

[Lisa & Ian Murray]

>>"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to
secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People
to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness ... when a
long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object
evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their
right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new
Guards for their future security."

Tom Paine is all over this argument, and methinks Tom Paine knew his Hobbes
well enough to take Hobbes where he would not go himself.

Cheers,
Rob.

===========
It's pure Frances Hutcheson as well...

Ian