Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher, best known for his 1651 book Leviathan. Writing in the aftermath of the English Civil War, he developed a social contract theory based on a dark view of human nature: the state of nature is a "war of all against all" where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." To escape this, humans surrender their rights to an absolute sovereign (the Leviathan) who maintains order through fear of punishment. He is the father of political materialism and social contract theory.
Who was Thomas Hobbes?
An English philosopher who argued that without strong central authority, human life descends into a brutal war of all against all.
What is the "state of nature"?
A hypothetical condition without government, laws, or social contract, where all individuals have a right to all things, leading to constant conflict.
What is Leviathan?
A metaphor for the absolute sovereign (a "mortal god") created by the social contract, whose power is necessary to enforce peace.
What is the mechanism of human selfishness?
All human actions are motivated by the desire for power ("a perpetual and restless desire for power after power") and the fear of death.
What is the social contract?
An agreement where each person gives up their natural right to everything in exchange for security provided by a sovereign.
Why do people obey the sovereign?
Primarily out of fear of punishment (not love or respect). Fear of violent death is the strongest human motive.
Does Hobbes support democracy?
No. He believed democracy is unstable; only a monarchy (or an absolute assembly) with undivided power can maintain order.
What is his view on religion?
Religion is a human invention born of fear and ignorance. The sovereign must control religious doctrine to prevent civil war.
What is the "right of nature"?
The liberty each person has to use their own power to preserve their own life. It is unlimited in the state of nature.
How is Hobbes different from Machiavelli?
Machiavelli advises the ruler on tactics; Hobbes justifies the ruler's absolute authority philosophically, based on human nature's dark mechanics.
