Thomas Hobbes
When one examines the maxim of as set forth in Leviathan it becomes obvious that Hobbes believes the nature of man to be bad. According to Hobbes, if we as men were left to exercise our own private judgement regarding our affairs we would most assuredly collapse into a state of war. He believes that when there is no singular, ever-present power to keep man in awe, and to control man by fear of punishment from that singular power, that man will break his agreements and act in his own self-interest. "For the Lawes of Nature (as Justice, Equity, Modesty, Mercy, and (in summe) doing to others, as wee would be done to,) of themselves, without the terrour of some Power, to cause them to be ...
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and the life of man (is) solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." (Hobbes. Pg. 107)
The only way to prevent entering a state of war is to erect one common power, which is known as a commonwealth or sovereign, who is "One person, of whose Acts a great Multitude, by mutuall Covenants one with another, have made themselves every one the Author, to the end he may use the strength and means of them all, as he shall think expedient, for their Peace and Common Defence."(Hobbes, pg. 121) With this definition comes the role of the sovereign. It is the role of the sovereign to enforce the laws of nature and to promote laws that are necessary for a peaceful and commodious life among men. In order for this to take place fluidly, it is necessary that all men agree that, "I Authorise and give up my Right of Governing my selfe, to this Man, or to this Assembly of men, on this condition, that thou give up thy Right to him, and Authorise all his Actions in like manner."(Hobbes, pg.120)
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sovereign is the judge of what is necessary for the peace and defense of his subjects, and whatever the sovereign does is unpunishable by the subject due to the fact that his power is indivisible.
The reason that Hobbes believes it is necessary for the sovereign to attain such extensive powers is because if a sovereign's power is not absolute then his power is considered void. On pg. 127 Hobbes says "And so if we consider any one of the said Rights, we shall presently see, that the holding of all the rest, will produce no effect, in the conservation of Peace and Justice, the end for which all Common-wealths are instituted. And this division is it, whereof it is said, a kingdome divided in ...
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Thomas Hobbes. (2007, December 19). Retrieved April 27, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Thomas-Hobbes/76107
"Thomas Hobbes." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 19 Dec. 2007. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Thomas-Hobbes/76107>
"Thomas Hobbes." Essayworld.com. December 19, 2007. Accessed April 27, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Thomas-Hobbes/76107.
"Thomas Hobbes." Essayworld.com. December 19, 2007. Accessed April 27, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Thomas-Hobbes/76107.
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