Final Flashcards
Hobbes’ View of the State of Nature
A state of war, anarchic and chaotic, where life is:
“Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
Key Features Hobbes’ State of Nature:
- Constant struggle over limited power and resources.
- Absence of authority leads to perpetual violence and insecurity.
Formation of Hobbes’ State of Nature:
- Purpose: To escape the chaos of the State of Nature.
- Collective Action: People rationally and willingly surrender some freedoms.
- Exchange: Freedoms given up for protection and peace.
Government Structure of Hobbes’ State of Nature:
- A unified authority is essential for maintaining order.
- Preferred a monarchy over divided powers to prevent social discord.
Unlike Thucydides, Hobbes saw equality
equality among individuals as a source of chaos.
Influences on Hobbes:
English Civil War:
- Personal experience of destruction and chaos.
- Believed tyranny under the Stuarts was preferable to anarchy.
Hobbes Equality in the State of Nature:
- People are naturally equal in their ability to act in self-interest.
- Equality contributes to chaos, as everyone competes for survival and resources.
Hobbes Role of the State:
- To prevent the anarchy of the State of Nature.
- Ensures civilization thrives (arts, engineering, letters, etc.).
Hobbes Monarchy and Leviathan:
- Symbol: The cover of The Leviathan shows a monarch composed of his subjects.
- The monarch’s power stems from the collective will of the people.
Hobbes
- Advocated a social contract to achieve peace and security.
- Saw the state as a solution to collective insecurity rather than a tool for domination.
Hobbes State of Nature:
concept of a pre-political, anarchic existence.
Hobbes Social Contract:
The agreement by which individuals surrender certain freedoms for collective protection.
What is the Leviathan?
Hobbes’ metaphor for the state, embodied in a sovereign ruler.
