Hobbes

Question 1

Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651, what humans desire

Answer 1

“a restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in Death”

Question 2

Hobbes, Leviathan, the right of nature

Answer 2

“every man has a right to everything; even to one another’s body”

Question 3

Hobbes, Leviathan, “the life of man” in the state of nature is…

Answer 3

“solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”

Question 4

Hobbes, Leviathan, conflict in the state of nature is

Answer 4

“a war of one against all”

Question 5

Hobbes, Leviathan, what causes humans to seek peace?

Answer 5

the “fear of Death, and Wounds”

Question 6

Hobbes, Leviathan, the second law of nature:

Answer 6

“to be willing…to lay down his right to all things; and be contended with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself”

Question 7

Johnathan Wolff, 2006, criticism of Hobbes and morality

Answer 7

argues that Hobbes overlooks morality in humans, we are different to animals and accept that we should not attack other people or take their property, only a minority would be immoral in the state of nature

Question 8

Johnathan Wolff, 2006, criticism of Hobbes and rationality

Answer 8

argues Hobbes contradicts himself when he argues that it is rational to seek peace/follow laws of nature whilst also arguing that it is rational to invade others in the state of war

Question 9

Quentin Skinner, 2000, authorisation of the state

Answer 9

points out that whenever our sovereigns exercise their power in order to protect us, their actions are not their own but rather of the person they are representing

Question 10

Rousseau, criticism of Hobbes

Answer 10

argues in his analysis of human nature, Hobbes is too influenced by modern society and mistakes the effect for the cause