Hobbes' Philosophy: Rights, Laws, and Contracts

Right of Nature

The liberty each man has to use his own power for the preservation of his own nature (life). It includes doing anything which, in his own judgment and reason, he believes is necessary for survival.

Liberty

The absence of external impediments. These impediments can reduce one's power but cannot stop the use of remaining power based on individual judgment.

Law of Nature

A precept or general rule, discovered by reason, that forbids actions destructive to one's life or that remove the means of self-preservation. It also requires actions believed to best preserve one's life.

Right vs. Law

Right is the liberty to do or not do, while Law determines and binds to a specific action. Right is about freedom; Law is about obligation.

Natural Right to Everything

It leads to a 'war of all against all,' where there's no security for anyone, regardless of strength or wisdom.

Fundamental Law of Nature (Part 1)

"That every man, ought to endeavour Peace, as farre as he has hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek, and use, all helps, and advantages of Warre".(Seek peace first; if unattainable, use any means of self-defense).

Fundamental Law of Nature (Part 2)

"By all means we can, to defend our selves".

Second Law of Nature

A man should be willing, when others are too, to lay down his right to all things to achieve peace and self-defense, being content with the same liberty he would allow others. It's the basis for the Golden Rule.

Necessity of Contract

Because there is always incentive to break the contract, despite the logic of the third law and the natural mandate to preserve our own lives.

Types of Persons

Natural and Artificial. A natural person's words are their own; an artificial person's words are those of another (a representative). The contract itself is an artificial person.