Thomas Hobbes and Political Realism

Believes in power, not values or ethics — power is the only determining factor in politics.
Extremely diverse in how people interpret and elaborate on this one idea.
Sees the state as natural, something innate in all humans.
Humans are naturally predisposed to form states, which are essentially communities of households.
Represents pre-modern logic, which thinkers like Thomas Hobbes challenge.

Focuses on the state and its necessity.
Rejects pre-modern logic — doesn’t believe there’s anything we can call “good.”
His famous phrase: “The misery of the natural condition of mankind.”
Describes how humans live, interact, and what politics is at its core.

Begins with the idea that nature made men equal in mind and body.
Though some may appear stronger or smarter, the differences are insignificant.
Weapons (e.g., guns) equalize strength — “the great equalizer.”
Purpose: Establish the foundation for his theory — people are equal.
Emphasizes that people have similar understanding and development as they grow older.
This equality of body and mind leads to equality of hope — if one can have something, why can’t I?

From equality of ability → arises equality of hope → leads to competition.
When two people desire the same thing they can’t both enjoy, they become enemies.
This creates social conflict — “the misery of the natural condition of mankind.”
Life in this state: “Nasty, brutish, and short.”
If one builds, sows, or possesses something valuable, others will try to take it — leading to insecurity and cycles of violence.
People fight for safety, fear, glory, ego, and reputation — creating a state of war.

Summary of Hobbes’s view:
- Humans are equal in mind and body → equal in hope.
- Equality creates competition, insecurity, and ego.
- Leads to constant war — not because we want it, but because it’s natural.
Humans use force and domination to protect themselves.
Domination of one man over another is necessary and part of human nature.
You can’t hold people responsible for acting according to human nature.
War and domination are inevitable parts of human behavior.

Competition → for gain → violence.
Diffidence (Insecurity) → for safety → defense.
Glory/Reputation → for ego → pride.
→ Together, they define human egoism and the cause of constant conflict.

The concept of time is tied to the concept of war — eventually, war is inevitable.
Even when not fighting, people are planning and preparing for war.
War isn’t just fighting — it’s the awareness and constant preparation for conflict.
Where there is no common power, there is no law, no justice — “nothing can be unjust.”
In war, force and fraud are the two cardinal virtues.

Without a higher power:
- People live in conflict, competition, and ego — creating a state of war.
- No concepts of mine or yours — “finders keepers, losers weepers.”
- Constant spying and suspicion of others.
Even kings, though powerful, are always preparing for war.
If you have no standard, you can have no critique — moral ambiguity reigns.
Distinction between:
- Inside society (where order exists)
- Internationally (where the state of war continues).

Reflects the 17th–18th century faith in science as infallible and neutral.
People believed science could solve all problems.
Hobbes challenges this:
- Science is done by people, who are biased and flawed.
- Therefore, science can be fallible — another form of disillusionment.
Science can sometimes give wrong answers — it’s not perfect.
Connection: People thought truth could come from logic/science, but Hobbes grounds truth in human nature.

Conflict is perpetual — the natural condition is a state of war.
Humans are miserable, so they create rules and systems to find peace.
The Laws of Nature are meant to incline people toward peace, even though conflict is constant.
Nothing is intrinsically good or bad; morality depends on the existence of law and power.
No law → no justice.

Because of human misery and war, Hobbes argues for a powerful government — The Leviathan.
People trust and obey it because it provides security.
We give up some rights in exchange for safety and peace.
Political realism supports this — power ensures stability, not ethics.
Political realism also believes:
- You can sign something and break it the next day (no moral obligation).
- Conflict increases when human nature is denied.
- Eventually, people must negotiate after fighting — realism accepts this.

Hobbes = one of the most widely read political thinkers of the modern era.
His ideas connect to:
- The formation of the UN — created to prevent constant world wars.
- Charter of Rights and Freedoms — ensuring accountability and shared values.
The international arena still lacks a superpower → no true accountability, no absolute right or wrong.
Those who benefit most from the system often criticize it the most.
Shows how rules don’t always matter — what matters is angle and power, not individual rights.

Moral ambiguity vs human nature: Hobbes sees moral confusion as natural.
The “good life” question:
- Hobbes believes in the idea of something being good, but “good” is defined by survival and peace, not morality.
In Canada, conscientious objection allows one to legally refuse to participate in something they morally oppose.