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Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason why subjects must fear the Sovereign more than their neighbors in Hobbes's view?
What is the primary reason why subjects must fear the Sovereign more than their neighbors in Hobbes's view?
What does Hobbes suggest is exchanged for the fear of the Sovereign's sword in Civil Society?
What does Hobbes suggest is exchanged for the fear of the Sovereign's sword in Civil Society?
According to Hobbes, what makes social life possible?
According to Hobbes, what makes social life possible?
How does Hobbes describe the fear in the State of Nature?
How does Hobbes describe the fear in the State of Nature?
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What happens when fearful creatures enter Civil Society according to Hobbes?
What happens when fearful creatures enter Civil Society according to Hobbes?
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What role does fear play in the administration of justice in Hobbes's view?
What role does fear play in the administration of justice in Hobbes's view?
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Why is the fear of the Sovereign considered more efficient than the fear of neighbors?
Why is the fear of the Sovereign considered more efficient than the fear of neighbors?
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In Hobbes's theory, what is necessary for the Sovereign to maintain control?
In Hobbes's theory, what is necessary for the Sovereign to maintain control?
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What analogy does Hobbes use to explain the fear that makes social life possible?
What analogy does Hobbes use to explain the fear that makes social life possible?
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What is the principal advantage of having a Sovereign, according to Hobbes?
What is the principal advantage of having a Sovereign, according to Hobbes?
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Study Notes
Social Contract and Sovereignty
- In a state of nature, individuals are in a precarious situation, and their nature is voluntary or involuntary submission to a sovereign.
- The sovereign has the ultimate ownership and right, not only over their own rights but also those of the citizens.
- The principal advantages of remaining sovereign lie in the sovereign's ability to make laws and enforce them.
Fear of Death and Sovereignty
- The fear of death is a crucial element in maintaining order in civil society, as it allows the sovereign to maintain control.
- In a Hobbesian society, the fear of death from the sovereign's sword is greater than the fear of violence from one's neighbors.
- This fear is necessary for the efficiency of the sovereign, as it ensures that subjects comply with laws and commands.
Civil Society and Fear
- In civil society, individuals exchange a general fear of sudden death by everyone else's hands for a specific fear of violent death from the sovereign's sword.
- This fear exchange is what makes social life possible, as it allows individuals to live in a relatively stable and secure environment.
- Hobbes' point is that in civil society, men live in a state of fear, but this fear is overridden by a more specific fear of the sovereign.
Analogy with Psychiatric Medicine
- The Hobbesian state of nature can be compared to a generalized phobic condition, where individuals are frightened of everyone and everything.
- This can lead to a paralysis of the will, making it difficult for individuals to take action.
- The "cure" for this condition starts when the individual can identify what they are afraid of, which is similar to the idea that in civil society, individuals are able to identify and fear the sovereign's power.
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of social contract, the relationship between the sovereign and citizens, and the balance of rights and ownership. It delves into the philosophical ideas of the state of nature and the role of the sovereign in a community.
