Leilani Merrill
Thomas Hobbes
1588-1679
Leviathan was published in 1660 and it’s influence expands throughout society. It’s important to know the historical time during Hobbes’s writing. The English Civil War happened 1642-1648. To Hobbes, social order will be better accomplished through a Commonwealth through a social contract. The state of nature exists in a raw state when there is no social order and things are based on self-preservation. According to Hobbes, there will always be a conflict either based on competition, diffidence, anxiety, or a desire for glory.
Hobbes had a dark outlook of human nature stating a conflict between every man against every man. He presented the analysis of the reason for insects to easily coexist and to Hobbes there are six reasons for this:
It’s true that certain living creatures, such as bees and ants, live sociably with one another (which is why:
(1) Men continually compete with one another for honour and dignity, which ants and bees do not
(2) But a man’s biggest pleasure in his own goods comes from their being greater than those of others!
(3) Bees and ants etc. don’t have the use of reason (as man does), and so they don’t see—and don’t think they see—any fault in how their common business is organized; whereas very many men think themselves wiser than the rest,
(4) These creatures, though they have some use of voice in making known to one another their desires and other affections,
(5) Creatures that lack reason don’t have the notion of being insulted or wronged as distinct from being physically damaged; so as long as they are at ease ·physically· they are not offended with the
(6) The agreement of these creatures is natural, whereas men’s agreement is by covenant only, which is artificial; so it’s no wonder if something besides the covenant is needed to make their agreement constant and lasting, namely a common power to keep them in awe and direct their actions to the common benefit it fellows;…
The state will establish its own Commonwealth created by the people. In general, people naturally seek peace, and the most efficient way to achieve the peace is to draft a social contract. According to Hobbes, without an actual power to keep everyone in control, chaos will result. Through this agreement, a multitude of people would collectively give their rights to the commonwealth and elects a person to represent them. A commonwealth is generated to defend people from anything that may risk their liberty.
Thomas Hobbes presents a human condition in the absence of an authority, and to protect everyone, a Sovereign and Commonwealth will be instituted created by the people. The intention would be to create security and justice for the people.
To Hobbes, with a common power appointed by the people, we’ll be at our safest. In a free society, or the State of Nature, there would be no sin, no injustice became there would be no laws yet. To Hobbes the solution is within the very problem, and that is to make a contract, ultimately becoming a social contract.
Men naturally love liberty, and dominion over others; so what is the final cause or end or design they have in mind when they introduce the restraint upon themselves under which we see them live in commonwealths? It is the prospect of their own preservation and, through that, of a more contented life;
Thomas Hobbes Leviathan 17.1
Sources:
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
A Middlesex University resource provided by Andrew Roberts –
Time Line 1651
Social Science History on Hobbes, Filmer and Locke
Introduction and Contents
Philosophy Forever 