THOMAS HOBBES Flashcards
Though Hobbes is seen as a ‘conservative’ philosopher what liberal principle is he linked to?
Government by consent and the ‘state of nature’, which was later used by Locke
What is Hobbes KEY work?
‘The Leviathan’ (1651)
What view of human nature did Hobbes take?
Skeptical view, arguing it was needy and vulnerable and therefore likely to commit destructive acts
What did Hobbes believe there was not before the emergence of the state?
no cooperation or voluntary arrangements between individuals and therefore no ‘natural rights’ later cited by liberals
What was the Hobbesian ‘state of nature’?
A place scarce of resources where individuals would be governed by ruthless self-interest
What did Hobbes believe human nature was shaped by?
A ruthless desire for the acquisition of goods, immovable distrust of others and a constant fear if death
What did Hobbes say the life in his view of the ‘state of nature’ would be?
‘Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short’
Why did Hobbes believe ‘natural chaos’ stemmed from?
An absence of any formal authority
Why did Hobbes believe life without any formal authority would only lead to war and uncertainty?
Because everyone is left on there own to form there own version of there moral compass
Why did Hobbes believe that mankind would eventually leave the ‘state of nature’ and thus agree to a ‘contract’?
Because human nature was not wholly irrational
According to Hobbes why would a contract of government render individuals to a ‘sovereign’ government?
So they have the right to make laws which would allow the sort of order and security absent in the ‘state of nature’, which would lead to a ‘society’
Why did Hobbes argue for an autocratic government?
because if power were dispersed then the conflicts within the ‘state of nature’ would soon be replicated
Why did Hobbes argue for a state?
because it provides order and security and a civil society with the state having to be autocratic, intimidating and forbidding to work
hobbes view on human nature
Individuals are selfish
driven by a ruthless desire for supremacy and security
Hobbes view of the state
State arises “contractually” from individuals who seek order and security.
To serve its purpose the state must be autocratic
