Thomas Hobbes Flashcards
what is Hobbes famous book
leviathan
where was he formally educated?
public schools and cambridge
what family does he serve?
Cavendish Family
is he republican or a royalist?
royalist
what was going on during the year he was born?
spanish armada
Alongside the Cavendish family who did he remain loyal to?
King Charles I
Since remaining loyal to King Charles would be politically costly where did he go?
Leave England and go to France where he did most of his writings
When was the English civil war
1642-1651
What did the Long Parliament sought to establish?
more legislative sovereignty
who did they force to sign an executive warrant for Thomas Wentworth for conspiracy?
Charles
When did Charles try to strike back and what would happen?
1642
king would abuse power and arrest in Parliament
Who would wage war?
Cromwell and Roundheads
how many deaths in the English civil war?
200K
3 main outcomes of English civil war?
trial and execution of King Charles I
exile of Charles II
establishment of Commonwealth
What happened when the English tried republicanism?
it quickly turned to a military dictatorship
When did Charles II reinstall as Monarch?
1660
Social Contract Theory
people sign a contract to become a society
What is Hobbes often referred to as?
Absolutist (one person holds all power)
What is his political philosophy mainly rooted in?
FEAR
a ‘good’ tool towards motivation
Does Hobbes support accountability mechanisms for sovereigns?
No
borne directly out of his experience as a Cavalier
what were his 3 writings?
Elements of Law
De Cive
Leviathan
Which of his writings was most influential?
leviathan
how much liberty should we forgo for security?
we should let go of All our liberty
you need to give up all individual liberty and all individual freedom for the sake of having a stable society
What view does Hobbes have of the world?
mechanistic view
Mechanistic view
X causes Y and therefore everything is perfectly determined
what is considered ‘good’ and what is ‘bad’?
its about our reactions, not inherent qualities
what do we continually chase in the state of nature?
Happiness since it is not stable
what is one of our only inherent qualities as humans?
desire
what is the state of nature seen as?
constant state of warre
3 causes of eternal conflict in state of nature
competition
pursuit of glory (reputation)
fear
what does the state of nature not have?
political authority
moral rules
what is less valued in the state of nature?
societal self-preservation
how do we avoid descending into a State of Nature like world?
we unite power under a single leviathan
How do we avoid conflict?
if everyone just obeys
giving all decision making power to one person
What happens if men could rule themselves?
there would be no need for sovereign
is it better to give up your right to all things for your right to certain things?
yes
Are people evil or rational in the state of nature?
rational
they do whatever they need to preserve themselves
