Hobbes' Leviathan Flashcards
Human Nature and the State of Nature
Human nature for Hobbes is fundamentally self-preserving, fearful, and competitive. Humans are driven by appetites and aversions, and reason is merely an instrument for satisfying desires
quote from leviathan for human nature and the state of nature
“In the nature of man we find three principal causes of quarrel: competition, diffidence, and glory.”
argument on human nature and the state of nature
Competition for gain, distrust for safety, and desire for reputation all drive people into conflict
“The life of man [is] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” (Ch. 13)
reasoning on human nature and the state of nature
Hobbes sees humans as fundamentally equal in their ability to kill each other, making universal mistrust rational
Without fear of a common power, human passions inevitably spiral into violence
comparison to other thinkers on human nature and the state of nature
Plato: Human disorder comes from imbalance in the soul; Hobbes attributes it to competition and fear without reference to internal rational structure
Aristotle: Humans are naturally political; Hobbes says they are naturally selfish and must be forced into society
Thucydides: Agrees conflict is natural due to fear, honor, and interest; Hobbes formalizes it philosophically
Machiavelli: Agrees humans are self-interested, but Machiavelli celebrates ambition; Hobbes fears it
Locke: Disagrees: Locke sees humans as generally capable of peaceful cooperation under natural law
Hume: Thinks passions dominate reason but that custom and habit moderate conflict better than Hobbes allows
sovereignty and the covenant
Sovereignty is absolute and undivided authority created through a social contract (covenant) to escape the state of nature
quote for sovereignty and the covenant
“The only way to erect such a common power… is to confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly.”
argument for sovereignty and the covenant
Individuals rationally contract with one another to transfer their rights to a sovereign
The sovereign is above the law, not party to the contract, and must have absolute power to prevent return to civil war
“The Leviathan” - an artificial person with absolute authority
reasoning for sovereignty and the covenant
Only fear of overwhelming force keeps naturally self-interested individuals from attacking one another
Divided sovereignty leads to renewed conflict
Comparison to Other Thinkers for sovereignty and the covenant
Plato: Believes rulers should have wisdom, not absolute coercive power
Aristotle: Supports rule by law and moderation, not a sovereign above law
Thucydides: Describes how power dominates in anarchic conditions; Hobbes systematizes this into a theory of sovereignty
Machiavelli: Agrees that power must sometimes be ruthless, but Machiavelli doesn’t demand absolute, legalistic control
Locke: Believes political power must be limited and accountable; governments can be dissolved
Hume: Sees political authority as based on convention and habit, not contractual transfer of rights
on law, liberty, and justice
Law: Commands of the sovereign enforced by threat of punishment
Liberty: Freedom to act where the law does not forbid (not absence of coercion)
Justice: Keeping valid covenants; depends entirely on civil law
quote for law, liberty, and justice
Quote (Leviathan, Chapter 15):
“Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice.”
argument on law, liberty, and justice
Justice is a creation of political authority, not natural reason or divine law
Liberty exists within the framework set by the sovereign, not outside it
Rights exist because the sovereign upholds them
reasoning on law, liberty, and justice
In the state of nature, promises cannot be reliably kept (no trust without enforcement)
Only the fear of state punishment can guarantee that people keep their agreements
comparison to other thinkers on law, liberty, and justice
Plato: Justice is an eternal moral order; Hobbes sees it as human-made and contingent
Aristotle: Justice is partial but natural; Hobbes rejects any natural justice outside sovereignty
Machiavelli: Believes justice is secondary to political necessity; similar in skepticism
Locke: Strongly disagrees: justice and rights exist prior to government
Hume: Sees justice as a useful convention, emerging from repeated interaction, not sovereign command
conflict, order, and diversity
Conflict: Arises naturally from passions unless suppressed
Order: Imposed externally by the sovereign
Diversity: Potentially dangerous; tolerable only when politically harmless
argument on conflict, order, and diversity
The sovereign must prevent factionalism by controlling religious and political expressions that could split society
Associations are allowed only with sovereign permission and must serve the public peace
Liberty exists only in private matters where the law is silent
reasoning on conflict, order, and diversity
Multiple centers of loyalty (religious sects, political factions) destabilize commonwealths
Only unified political authority can secure peace
comparison to other thinkers for conflict, order, and diversity
Plato: Seeks internal harmony to prevent conflict; Hobbes uses fear and law
Aristotle: Believes in managing plural interests, not suppressing them
Machiavelli: Accepts conflict as politically energizing; Hobbes fears it
Locke: Accepts religious and political diversity under limits
Hume: Celebrates diversity in commerce and opinion as stabilizing
