hobbes Flashcards
human nature belief
the world is materialistic, humans are one kind of body in motion (non teleological explanation)
human society outline
- collection of atoms naturally in chaotic motion likely to collide
- but are rational so can desire to not be destroyed
what does he say on state of nature?
nasty brutish and short
constant competition fo resources, security reputation etc
concept of good to hobbes?
good is subjective and politics is negative as it is to avoid human disasters, but still a need for laws
felicity and power?
we need power (friends, money etc) because we are driven by our desires and our desire is to have felicity (happinesS)
parts of state of nature?
1 natural equality - all equal, anyone can kill anyone
2 scarcity of goods - limited production, no property rights or protection leads to conflict
3 uncertainty - lack of protection leads to fear
solution to state of nature
escape through passions and reason
passions - pce not war as fear of death
reason - agree on principles to establish a treaty
rights of nature?
right of self preservation blameless liberty (no moral check, right doenst always mean good)
views on natural rights?
bentham and marx say there are not any
negative natural rights?
right not to be interfered with
positive natural rights?
to be provided for (eg eduation or healthcare etc)
no.1 law of nature?
seek peace as far as you can
how can there be laws with no law givER?
natural laws discoverable by every and any rational individual wanting civil peace and security
whats the socal contract?
a way out of state of nature
each must agree to give power to sovereign to enforce peace
properties of the sovereign?
an artificial creation of the people
hobbes thinks it works best as an individual person
unlimited power
comes through consent or force
what rights does a sovereign have?
choose successor rules on ownership and propety taxation create or take away laws secure subjects safety
duty of sovereign?
secure own survival and protect subjects
ensure peace
sujects rights?
granted by the sovereign
UNLESS the sovereign fails to protect them
subjects duties?
obedience to effective sovereign and his laws
UNLESS he attacks them/orders suicide/allows gov. collapse
hypothetical objection to hobbes and reply
both social contract and state of nature are hypothetical contracts
REPLY it is enough that we act in such a way that if there were a contract we would sign it
communitarian criticism
excessive individual account making human nature negative
hobbes and natural family outlook
a child has obligation to obey that who preserves it.
if a mother the mother has pwoer over whether to say who the father is or to expose it to deaath or preserve it
if the mother exposes it and it is found by another, the child is obligated to the founder
criticism of rebelling?
how can you know when it is legitimate to rebel?
how do you knw when the soereign is about to attack?
