Thomas Hobbes

Question 1

Leviathan

Answer 1

His most famous work
Argued human nature was needy + vulnerable + likely to commit destructive acts.
This state, Leviathan, should have power to enforce laws + maintain peace, thus prevent chaos of SON.
Hobbes emphases order, security, role of state in achieving societal stability + security.

Question 2

State of nature

Answer 2

Prior to state, no voluntary arrangements between individuals and no ‘natural rights.’
A place with scarce resources where people governed by self-interest. Human nature shaped by desire to acquire goods, having distrust of others and fear of death.
Nasty brutish and short.
Didn’t consider HN fully irrational, mankind realise SON was inimical (tend to harm) to self-interest and therefore agreed to ‘contract.’ Individuals would render to state the right to make laws

Question 3

Principle reason for the state

Answer 3

Create order and security; w/o state there’s no civil society; for state to be effective has to be autocratic, intimidating + forbidding.