Historical Context

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher, whose famous 1651 bookLeviathan

set the agenda for much of subsequent Western political philosophy. Michael
Oakeshott famously described it as the greatest,perhapsthesole,masterpieceof
political philosophywrittenintheEnglishlanguage. Hobbesalsocontributedtoa
diverse array of fields,includinghistory,geometry,ethics,law,psychologygeneral
philosophy and what would now be calledpoliticalscience.Hisaccountofhuman
nature as essentiallyself-centered,thoughadarkassessment,holdsthatpeopleat
their best can rise to self-interested cooperation.

Hobbes was one of the first political philosopherswhotriedtoexplainandjustify
politicalauthoritywithoutrecoursetothereligiousjustificationssuchasthedivine
right of kings (a rulers power doesnt come from God). Instead he sought to
ground political authority on a social contract by appealing to human experience.
(1588-1679)
Location: England His main concern was to establish the conditions for peace and stability so that
people couldbesafe.Todothishethoughtthatthesovereign(ruler)shouldhavea
Famous Leviathan, 1651
Writing: monopoly on force and use that power to enforce the law. He could not see the
dangers of an absolute sovereign especially with the powers of the modernstate
Most modern founder of the social contract tradition;
Well-Known at its disposal.
Ideas: Life in the state of nature is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short

However his key insight that the purpose of government is to establish and
maintain peace and stability and at all costs to prevent social chaos and anarchy
was correct. In that sense Hobbes wasadefenderoforderedindividuallibertybut
not democracy.


Leviathan, Summaries of Leviathan Questions
1651 by
Thomas In the natural condition of mankind, which other philosophers refer to asthe 1. How does Hobbes describe humans in the state of nature?
Hobbes
state of nature, while some men may be stronger or more intelligent than

others, none is so strong and smart as to be beyond a fear of violent death.

When threatened with death, man in his naturalstatecannothelpbutdefend

himself in any way possible. Self-defense against violent death is Hobbes'
highest human necessity, and rights are borne of necessity. In the state of
2. Describe Hobbes view of the state of nature.
nature, then, each of us hasaright,orlicense,toeverythingintheworld.Due
tothescarcityofthingsintheworld,thereisaconstantandrights-based,"war
of all against all". Life in the state of natureisfamously"solitary,poor,nasty,
brutish, and short".

Leviathan rigorously argues that civilpeaceandsocialunityarebestachieved 3. According to Hobbes, what is the best way for peopletoescapethedangersof
the state of nature?
by the establishment of a commonwealth (country) through social contract.

Hobbes's ideal commonwealth is ruled by a sovereign power (king or queen)

responsible for protecting the security of the commonwealth and granted
absolute authority to ensure the common defense. 4. According to Hobbes, what type of government is ideal?

Much of the book is occupied with demonstrating the necessity of a strong 5. What, if any, limits does Hobbes place on the sovereign?
centralauthoritytoavoidtheevilofdiscordandcivilwar.Anyabusesofpower
by this authority are to be accepted as the price of peace. In particular, the
doctrine of separation of powers is rejected: the sovereign must controlcivil,
military, judicial and ecclesiastical(church) powers.
 What would Thomas Hobbes recommend for your island government?