Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, chaps. 3, 6, 13, 14, 15

Nature of Thought

Thinking is a sequence of thoughts where one idea leads to another, shaped by past sensory experience.

Unguided Thought Trains

Thoughts that have no clear goal or direction, often appearing chaotic but following subconscious connections.

Regulated Thought Trains

Thoughts guided by a desire or purpose, including reasoning backward and planning actions to achieve goals.

Practical Reasoning

Reasoning understood as a calculation of consequences; humans think in terms of 'If this, then that'.

Rationality

Instrumental, not moral; thinking is mechanical and not spiritual.

Appetite

A psychological force that represents desire, leading to movement toward something.

Aversion

A psychological force that denotes movement away from something.

Subjective Values

The notion that good is defined by individual desires and evil by what is avoided, indicating no objective morality.

The Will

The strongest desire at the moment of decision, indicating that choices are determined by competing desires.

Happiness

Defined as continuous success in obtaining desires; it's not a stable condition.

Power

The means to secure future desires, with humans constantly striving for more power, leading to conflict.

Equality of Humans

Humans are roughly equal in physical ability and mental capacity, allowing even the weak to defeat the strong.

Causes of Conflict

Competition for resources, diffidence (fear) for safety, and glory (reputation) lead to conflict.

State of Nature

Characterized by the absence of government, laws, and justice, resulting in a state of war.

Natural Right

The right to do anything necessary for survival, leading to insecurity in society.

Natural Law

A rational rule that promotes survival and requires peace when possible.

Contracts

Agreements that arise when rights are transferred; they can be renouncing rights or transferring them.

Trust in Contracts

Agreements are fragile without enforcement, as fear of betrayal prevents cooperation.

Justice

Keeping valid covenants, while injustice is defined as breaking them.

Common Power

Necessary for enforcing agreements; without it, fear of cheating makes cooperation irrational.

Additional Natural Laws

Rules necessary for peace include equity, gratitude, accommodation, pardon, and no arrogance.

Moral Philosophy

Laws are rational and necessary for peace but ineffective without enforcement.

Human Nature Summary

Characterized by desire, fear, and power-seeking, showing that humans are not naturally moral or cooperative.

State of Nature Problem

Describes the insecurity and conflict present without authority.

Solution to Insecurity

Rational individuals agree to contracts to limit their freedoms.

Need for Sovereign Authority

Essential to enforce agreements, maintain peace, and prevent war.