Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau Flashcards
What is the state of nature?
A philosophical device to propose justifications for what life would be like without government.
What is the state of nature for Hobbes?
Constant WAR
What is the state of nature for Locke?
An inconvenient state that doesn’t allow persons to take advantage of their natural rights
What is the state of nature for Rousseau?
Humans are morally free so therefore they are acting on their impulses which wouldn’t be a stable society to reap benefit form free choice.
What is Hobbes’ RIGHT of nature?
Pursuing basic justice, fear of death, having labour be counted for, and desire to comfort. In other words, self-preservation.
What is self-preservation for Hobbes?
The right of nature… is the liberty every man has to use his own power as he wills himself for the preservation of his own nature; that is to say of is own life. And to achieve this, man can do whatever he sees fit to continue the preservation of his own life.
Why is self-preservation not okay for Hobbes?
Because of the right of nature, man is constantly at war with one another. There are differences in the capability of their body and mind which creates considerable competition between man. If two men desire the same thing, they cannot enjoy it equally, and so they become enemies and will result to destroying one another.
How does the constant state of war conflict with the society of man for Hobbes?
Because men have different capacities of capability, there are possibilities of the fruit of one’s labour being deprived from them because of the will of another. This results in the constant state of fear for man, which is the state of war, and there is no way for one to secure himself.
What are the three principles of quarrel?
- Competition
- Diffidence: safety/defense
- Glory
What is the result of no common power for Hobbes?
The state of WAR, “Man is enemy to every man” There os no place for growth in human development: no industry, culture; men would live brutish and short lives.
What example does Hobbes offer to support his claims of men being at war?
Men lock their doors at night to protect themselves from each other.
How does Hobbes define the law of nature?
As a precept, or general rule, found by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive to his own life or take away the means of preserving the same.
What are the shorthand laws of nature for Hobbes?
- Seek peace and follow it
- Lay down the right to all things
- Perform covenants made
Explain Hobbes’ law to “seek peace and to follow it”
Because the condition of man is in constant state of war, there is nothing that he can make of himself and benefit from his labour. He cannot fully preserve and protect himself against his enemies. Therefore, all men should respect each others right to self preservation by seeking peace in order to maintain that liberty. If a man does not have intention of seeking peace, than the offended has the right to exercise war.
“Security of a man’s person”
Explain Hobbes’ law to “lay down the right to all things”
Once everyone lays down their rights, they are not exposed to prey. It allows men to enjoy their natural right of living. Men stand out of the way of each other by transferring their right to the Leviathan. This actions binds men together which is stronger than their own nature, and there is a common fear of rupture of the bond. By transferring right, man hopes to gain something for himself, a better good. It promises man will not do something malicious to one another in order to gain security because they already have it by this agreement.
Explain Hobbes’ law to “perform their covenants made”
A covenant made in the state of nature is a void, it relies too heavily on the trust of man, and since man is constantly at war with one another, this too large of a possibility for it not to be performed. However, in a civil society, there is a higher power that ensures fear instead of trust. All men are not equal under the Leviathan because it can punish those who do not comply with the laws. The covenants are contracts that persons are ensuring their own benefit by giving someone else their benefit.
Why should no man lay down his natural rights to perform a covenant made for Hobbes?
In order to keep their rights and not have them taken away (which is having their life/self-preservation taken) Without threat, men will not perform.
Why would a man perform his covenant?
Because of breaking one’s glory, pride, or word. Or fear of powerful spirits or the power of the men they shall “therein offend”.
Explain Hobbes’ idea of consent
Hobbes believes that men and women love liberty and dominion over others and they are striving to get themselves out of the state of war. If humans act by direction of their accord, there would be no defense or protection against a common enemy. By authorizing all actions and judgements to one man (the sovereignty) they are consenting to the Leviathan. When man secures their rights and faculties under a sovereignty, they are consenting.
Explain how Political Legitimacy is upheld for Hobbes. How many reasons are there for an institution to be legit?
All men have voted upon one sovereignty and that man is a representation of all men’s judgements. There are 12 reasons for political legitimacey.
What is the first reasons for political legitimacy?
- The sovereign has covenanted. They are not obliged by any former covenant to anything repugnant hereunto. They cannot create a monarch which would result in the confusion of disunited multitude.
What is the second reasons for political legitimacy?
- The man they make sovergein cannot make covenants with individuals for the sake of benefit.
