Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan chapter 13

Chapter XIII — Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning Their Felicity and Misery

  • Equality of Men

    • Nature has made men equal in body and mind.

    • Even if one man appears stronger or smarter, the differences are not significant enough for one to claim exclusive benefits.

    • For instance, the weakest man has the potential to kill the strongest through strategy or alliances.

  • Equality of Mind

    • The abilities of men are largely equal when excluding specialized skills, which are rare.

    • Prudence, acquired through experience, is equally available to all men over time.

    • Many individuals have an exaggerated belief in their own wit compared to the general population.

  • Equality of Hope

    • This equality in capabilities leads to equal hopes in achieving personal goals.

    • When two men desire the same thing that cannot be shared, they become enemies.

    • Individuals will try to destroy or subdue each other as a means of preserving their own existence and sometimes for fleeting pleasures.

  • Conflict and War

    • Men in an environment without a common authority face continuous threats from one another.

    • Those who cultivate land or build must always be prepared for invasion, which can strip them of their achievements, freedom, or even life.

  • Nature of Human Relations

    • Men engage in conflicts for three primary reasons: competition, diffidence, and glory.

    • Competition leads to invasions for gain, Diffidence leads to actions for safety, and Glory seeks reputation.

  • State of War Defined

    • War is not limited to physical battles; it extends to a prolonged state of hostility between individuals, indicating a readiness for conflict.

    • In this condition, peace is defined as the absence of war, and the inevitable outcomes of a time of war include industry difficulties, societal collapse, and a generally perilous existence.

    • Life is categorized as solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

Chapter XIV — Of the First and Second Natural Laws, and of Contracts

  • Natural Rights

    • The right of nature refers to every man's liberty to utilize his power for self-preservation.

    • This includes actions deemed most effective for ensuring one's life.

  • Concept of Liberty

    • Liberty is understood as the absence of external obstacles, even though personal powers may be partially hindered by such obstacles.

  • Natural Law (Lex Naturalis)

    • A law of nature is a rule derived from reason that forbids actions against one's life or the means to preserve it.

    • This law contrasts common notions of right and wrong, and it is essential for establishing foundational societal agreements.