Leviathan by Hobbes Overview

Leviathan by Hobbes

• Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan in 1651.
• The book describes the state of nature as a war of "every man against every man."
• Life in this state is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."
• Hobbes believed that without a sovereign, people would constantly fight for power and resources.
• Leviathan represents the Commonwealth (the State).
• Hobbes lived during the English Civil Wars (1642-46 and 1648-51).
• This period included conflict between Royalists and Parliamentarians, and religious divisions.
• A division of power between the King and Parliament was part of the upheaval.
• In a state of nature, there's no authority or laws.
• Humans are in a state of conflict, thus inherently bad.
• Without a sovereign, there is no peace or security.

State of Nature

• Hobbes and Rousseau both studied the state of nature through thought experiments.
• Hobbes described humans in a state of nature as inherently bad, driven by fear, and aggressive.
• Rousseau saw humans as naturally peaceful and happy, but society corrupts them.
• Civilization and social constructs lead to corruption.
• To be civilized, people need to be educated and controlled.
• The presence of laws, a ruling body, and the State are generally accepted.

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

• Machiavelli rejected the traditional idea that rulers should always act virtuously.
• He believed that rulers must be prepared to do whatever is necessary to maintain power.
• His ideas are famously presented in The Prince, published around 1513.
• Machiavelli believed that people are thankless, fickle, and untrustworthy.
• They will only support a ruler as long as they are beneficial.
• Maintaining one's position requires knowing when to be good and when to use ruthlessness to stay in power.

The State of Nature (Alternative View)

• The state of nature is examined by looking at humans as if they had suddenly emerged from the earth like mushrooms.
• Imagine a society without artificial authorities or established power structures.
• Evidence suggests a tendency towards chaos (e.g., civil wars, conflicts among individuals).

Why Chaos?

• Humans are equal in their ability to harm and be harmed.
• This equality creates a "war of all against all."
• Reasons for conflict include competition for resources and fear for one's survival.
• People are naturally drawn towards greed, egoism, and bias in their judgment of need.
• These factors lead to the absence of a natural sovereign.

War of All Against All

• The concept of a war of all against all is not a constant state of continuous fighting.
• Instead, it describes the general environment of mistrust, competition and absence of peace.
• Key motivators to conflict include: competition for resources, fear-based mistrust, and the pursuit of glory.
• No sovereign means no peace, security, trust in individuals, cooperation, agriculture, industry, or commerce (thus implying no property).

Right and Law of Nature

• In a state of nature, humans are not necessarily inherently "good" or "bad," but instead, their actions are primarily driven by self-preservation.
• Natural rules are deduced from human nature. The fundamental natural passion being self-preservation.
• The right of nature allows liberty to pursue self-preservation.
• A duty arises, or law of nature, obligating against jeopardizing the self-preservation of others.

Problems As Each Sees Fit

• In a state of nature, rights are subjective to each individual.
• There is no objective standard for determining justice.
• People have a natural duty to seek peace.
• The only way to achieve a meaningful and secure life is to relinquish the right to everything and submit to a sovereign.

Exit

• Individuals give up rights to gain security and freedom.
• The right of self-defense is retained.
• A sovereign is needed to enforce agreement with rules.
• A sovereign establishes a singular "good" for society. People may not agree with the sovereign's idea of "good."
• Obeying the sovereign's rules is crucial for maintaining peace and security.

Questions on the Sovereign

• The sovereign can be collective or a single individual.
• Divided power leads to destruction.
• What constitutes a bad sovereign?
• Is critique of the sovereign's laws possible?
• What about laws that threaten life?

Prisoner's Dilemma

• A game illustrating a common problem of self-interest in decision-making.
• Cooperation may not be the rational choice unless enforced or assured.

Desert Island Principles

• Thought experiment on devising rules in a situation without external authority.
• How would decision-makers approach creating rules for social cooperation, security, and order?

Additional Questions and Critical Analysis

• Is Hobbes's view of the state of nature accurate?
• Are punishments effective deterrents?
• Is self-interest the sole basis of politics?
• Can Hobbes's ideas be effectively challenged?

Explore the main concepts presented in Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan, a foundational text in political philosophy written in 1651. The quiz covers the state of nature, the role of the sovereign, and Hobbes' views on human nature during the tumultuous English Civil Wars. Test your understanding of how Hobbes' ideas contrast with those of Rousseau.