hobbes

Lifespan

born April 5, 1588, died December 4, 1679

what was Hobbes' work often in response to? why?

English Civil War - the beginnings of large political revolutions and associated anarchy. He perceived the civil war as a key example of the 'state of nature' and could only be neutralised by supreme authority from a sovereign

True or False: Hobbes was a royalist

True, which led to him fleeing from England in fear of Parliament's government

What and why did Hobbes write?

He wrote the Leviathan in 1651 to advocate for the leadership of the monarchy

Three strands of human imperfection

Morally imperfect, intellectually imperfect, psychologically imperfect

State of Nature

a violent, fearful place where humans are in never ending conflict as they pursue their selfish desires - a society before the existence of the state, where individuals live without laws

'Life in the state of nature is...'

'...solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.'

True or false: Hobbes believed that humans were completely irrational

False, he thought humans were intellectually imperfect, and needed protection from themselves

Social Contract

surrendering individuals' autonomy to the monarch, who in turn provide order through their authority - which allows society to develop and for humans to live collectively and without fear

Organic Society

an understanding that society operates like a living organism with each member integrally related to all others, and the whole is more than the collection of its parts

What did Hobbes think about humans?

there is no moral compass, causing them to be irrational and therefore cannot understand the world around them

'in the nature of man, we find three principal causes of quarrel...'

'...first, competition; secondly, difference; thirdly, glory. The first maketh men invade for gain; the second, for safety; and the third, for reputation'

What did Hobbes think about society?

as a whole, it had a materialistic worldview

Hobbes: centralised authority

the creation of the state prevents chaos and install order

Hobbes: decentralised authority

it would lead to social instability, as society would be prone to descending into disarray, due to humans 'imperfect nature'

what does Hobbes argue about the state?

the sovereign alone, be it a Monarch, governing body, or an assembly, would have complete authority over the people, all decision making, and not have to abide by any social contracts (argued in the Leviathan)

'for there are very few so foolish who would not...'

'...rather govern themselves than be governed by others'

What did Hobbes say about the economy?

while not explicitly stated, Hobbes ideas imply that property rights are necessary - security is needed from a sovereign power to ensure this

'It is fairer to tax people on what they extract from the economy, as roughly measured by their consumption...'

'...than to tax them on what they produce for the economy, as roughly measured by their income.'