Hobbes and the State of Nature

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on Hobbes' philosophy, focusing on the State of Nature, human motivation, and the role of government.

Self-interest

The basic motivation for people, driving their actions, with the most fundamental aspect being self-preservation.

Self-preservation

The most basic interest each person has, which is the desire to stay alive.

State of Nature (Hobbes)

A hypothetical pre-civilization setting where there is no organized structure, each person acts solely out of self-preservation, and individuals are in constant competition and conflict, making life dangerous and insecure.

Government function (Hobbes)

An outside force or entity created to enforce agreements and provide rules of civil order, thereby improving individuals' chances of survival compared to the State of Nature.

Civil Order

The system of rules and shared agreements, enforced by a government, that allows individuals to live together more securely and improve their chances of survival by leaving the State of Nature.

Radical Freedom (in State of Nature)

The unlimited ability of individuals to do anything in the effort to stay alive when there are no rules or enforcement mechanisms, which is relinquished upon entering civil society.

Breakdown of Civilized Life

Real-world scenarios, such as natural disasters, civil war, or rebellion, where the usual structures of maintaining civil order are absent, leading to conditions that resemble Hobbes' State of Nature.