Hobbes Flashcards
Two Seeds of Religion. What are they, what are their resultant political conceptions, and what are the imports of those?
Introduce
- Disinterested desire for knowledge and ignorance of causation
- The former prompts the first cause problem. The latter prompts anxiety, and leads to the worshiping of invisible causes.
- Power hungry subsequently take advantage of this ignorance and form sects.
Conclude - he thinks religion is the main cause of civil war, and that a leviathan must be used to mitigate this violence.
It’s also one insight into human nature.
Hobbes’ conception of felicity and its role in his political thought.
Intro
- Human ontology, vital and voluntary motion.
- Latter leads to seeking pleasure/avoid aversions
- When achieved, this is felicity
- Distinct from happiness in that it is fleeting, and is constantly being sought.
- Political purpose: it drives our endless race for relative power
Conclude - Explains human nature.
Explain claim that ‘there is a general inclusion in humankind a perpetual race for power that ceases only in death’.
Introduce - motions and felicity
- To achieve and maintain felicity for as long as possible, we seek power.
- This power is relative, for if anyone has more, then can take our things.
- Most people are cool with modest things, but they want to protect them.
- You never know how much power one could have in the future, so it is endless.
- Instrumental and original power.
Conclude - this is the basis of conflict in the nature of nature, leviathan.
How is the state of nature a state of equality?
Intro - in two ways
- It is morally equal in that everyone has the same right to self-preservation, and any means to preserve it.
- Physically equal. Especially in mind, but also physically. One might be stronger, but we all sleep, equal in vulnerability.
- If we weren’t equal, there would be little conflict, one would dominate the other.
Conclude - why there is conflict, why we need coercive power, leviathan.
Three Causes of Quarrel
Introduce -
- Invasion for gain - based in competition
- Invasion for diffidence - based in safety
Invasion for glory - based in reputation
- these are caused by our equality, and themselves cause underdeveloped culture.
Conclude - must contract sovereignty, leviathan
Laws of nature exist foro interno but not always foro externo. How do we bring them into externo? What problem needs solving?
Introduce - 19 laws
- We must fix the assurance problem
- Without coercive, one is not obligated to follow a contract, it would threaten their safety.
- We need a fear greater than that of others’ power - a leviathan
Conclude - human nature, first social contract
Present the role of the first three laws of nature in getting us out of the state of nature. We have both the motive to leave and the means.
Introduce - 19 laws that we discover
- must seek peace
- must give up freedom
- abide by contracts with assurance
- our motive is our self-preservation and have natural law realized
Conclude - only way to escape, and human nature
What is the position of the fool? What is Hobbes’ reply to the fool?
Intro - mutually-binding contracts
- fool’s position is that, in contracts, people have the right to break them to preserve themselves through instrumental power
- Hobbes says no because reputation and harm
Conclude - Hobbes admits this is a weak point, and a common disease
Present 5 rights of the Leviathan.
Intro - for stability, they get rights
1. Immunity against revolt - self-defense like everyone else
2. Immunity against accusations of breaking contract - they were not party to the contract
3. Territorial Jurisdiction - all must consent, no regression
4. Property - can assign, don’t want that conflict
5. Undivided power - legislative, judicial, executive, ecclesiastical, all in one place. No one above.
Conclude - leads into the intolerable doctrines
Four intolerable doctrines that should be censored by the sovereign.
Intro - after six rights
1. Every person is judge of good/evil - no debating
2. If against conscience, sin - conform to public conscience
3. Religion can’t justify disobedience - most common. Just hold faith in heart.
4. Sovereign is subject to law - gets undivided power. If not, they’re not sovereign.
Conclude - this shows Hobbes’ strong opposition to pluralism, and that ultimate goal is avoiding civil war.
Present his idea of the two kinds of liberty of subjects.
Introduce - based in negative liberty from state (lack of opposition to our motions)
- First is contingent liberty. This is a relative concept that says we all must obey the laws of our land.
- True liberty. Universally every one right to self-defense including the leviathan. Any contract without out is void.
Conclude - only instance where disobedience is justified. Some aspects of nature stay.
Present Hobbes’ idea of the two origins of states.
Introduce
- Commonwealth by institution - one that is established by those who wanted it through a contract.
- Commonwealth by acquisition. One that has been colonized.
- One is characterized by fear of each other, the other by fear of others.
- Both are legitimate because the colonized will consent
Conclude - social contract, odd definition of consent
Present Hobbes’ regression argument for absolutism.
Introduce
- His main defense of absolutism/monarchism is that is will preclude a regression to the state of nature the best. They have the best minds at their disposal, not accountable.
- It is only instrumental value. If other system could do better, then great.
- He thinks democracy is prone to demagoguery and conflict. You can’t disagree with yourself! (monarchy)
Conclude - consequentialist, government as mitigation, not provider.
Three parts of Hobbes case against martyrdom
Intro - how to address in a commonwealth
- Miracles are done, you can disbelieve prophets, not the scripture
- religious power only evangelism, not coercion (bad instrument anyway)
- Christians must obey sovereigns. Keep faith in your heart.
Conclude - he might not believe this.
