Thomas Hobbes: Political Philosophy PDF

## THOMAS HOBBES ### Introductory - Jean Bodin, a Frenchman, was the first political philosopher to develop the theory of state sovereignty. - Thomas Hobbes, an Englishman, expanded on the theory of state sovereignty. - Hobbes's great masterpiece, *Leviathan*, provides a complete statement of the...

## THOMAS HOBBES ### Introductory - Jean Bodin, a Frenchman, was the first political philosopher to develop the theory of state sovereignty. - Thomas Hobbes, an Englishman, expanded on the theory of state sovereignty. - Hobbes's great masterpiece, *Leviathan*, provides a complete statement of the theory of absolute and unlimited sovereignty. - Bodin defined sovereignty as the supreme power of the state, but he acknowledged that it was limited by the natural law, constitutional laws, the law of God, and the right of the individual to own private property. - Hobbes refuted Bodin’s limitations on sovereignty by providing a systematic theory of state absolutism. - Hobbes developed his concept of state absolutism in response to civil unrest in England. - Hobbes's theory of state sovereignty built upon the ideas of Machiavelli and Bodin. ### The Life and Times of Hobbes - Hobbes was born in Malmesbury, England, in 1588 and died in 1679. - His life spanned one of the most stirring periods of English history - the English Revolution. ### Even More Remarkable Than Political Events - During the same period as Hobbes's political thought, a scientific revolution was taking place. - The sham Aristotelianism of the Middle Ages was being replaced with mechanical science. - Kepler, Galileo, and Descartes were among the thinkers who laid the foundation of modern science. ### Hobbes's Life and Education - Hobbes was the son of a vicar and had a thorough knowledge of the Scripture. - He did not find religion to be inspiring. - He was educated at Malmesbury and Oxford. - He graduated at the age of nineteen. - He became a tutor to the heir of William Cavendish. - His connection to the Cavendish family lasted for most of his life. - His travels across Europe with his students brought him into contact with leading figures of his era, such as Bacon, Johnson, Descartes, and Galileo. ### Hobbes on Geometry - Hobbes was captivated by the rigorous methods of proof used in geometry. - He applied this rigorous approach to his study of philosophy, politics, and psychology. - His exploration of these subjects led him to be a contributing member of the intellectual movement of the "new philosophy." ### Hobbes's Experience With the English Civil War - Hobbes fled England during the civil war and sought refuge in France for eleven years. - He joined the royalist group that had gathered around the exiled King Charles II. ### *Leviathan* - Hobbes’s *Leviathan* was published in 1651. - *Leviathan* is Hobbes's most influential work. - Hobbes's views in *Leviathan* were unpopular with the royalists. - His political philosophy was counter to the beliefs of both the royalists and the revolutionaries. - Despite his views, Hobbes was anxious to exert influence in favor of the king. ### Hobbes on Mathematics - Hobbes felt that politics should be supported by a scientific method based on mathematics. - He believed that all phenomena in the natural and social worlds could be explained in terms of matter in motion. - He was a proponent of mechanical materialism. ### Hobbes and European Travel - Hobbes developed his ideas of mechanical materialism during his travels across Europe. - His travels led him to embrace these concepts. ### Hobbes's Contributions to Western Political Thought - Hobbes is considered one of the most influential figures in Western political thought. - He was one of the first philosophers to attempt to bridge political theory with a modern system of thought. - He established scientific foundations for absolutism and secularism. ### Hobbes’s Views on Human Nature - Hobbes believed that human nature is inherently selfish and competitive. - He believed that self-preservation is the primary motivation for human action. - He believed that in the absence of a powerful sovereign, human beings would live in a state of constant fear and violence. - He believed that the solution to this problem is the establishment of a strong and sovereign state. ### Hobbes’s 19 Laws of Nature - Hobbes described 19 laws of nature that he argued were the foundations of civil society. - The laws of nature are based on reason and logic. - They require individuals to renounce their right to everything and to accept limits on their freedoms. - The laws of nature are not binding in the absence of a sovereign power. ### The Social Contract - Hobbes believed that the state is created by a social contract among individuals. - Individuals agree to surrender their natural rights to the sovereign in exchange for security. - The sovereign is not a party to the contract and therefore does not have to concede any rights to the people. ### Hobbes's Views on Sovereignty - The sovereign power is absolute and unlimited. - The sovereign power does not have to follow the laws of nature or the law of God. - Hobbes’s concept of sovereignty was more absolute than Bodin's concept. ### Hobbes's Theory of Civil Law - Hobbes believed that civil law is based on the will of the sovereign. - The sovereign has the power to determine what is just and unjust, good and evil, and what is right and wrong. - The sovereign is the source of property rights. - Property rights are not inherent but are created by the sovereign. - Hobbes argued for complete and unquestioning obedience to civil law. ### Criticism of Hobbes - Hobbes’s ideas about human nature and the social contract were controversial. - Many philosophers criticized Hobbes for his absolute views on sovereignty and his denial of individual rights. - Others disputed his view on the nature of the state of nature. - Despite these critiques, Hobbes's ideas have had a lasting influence on Western political thought. ### Conclusion - Hobbes's theory of the absolute state was controversial. - It presents a pessimistic vision of human nature. - It argues for a strong and centralized state. - Despite his controversial views, Hobbes is a highly influential figure in Western political thought. - His ideas continue to be debated and developed by political philosophers. 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