Lecture on Thomas Hobbes and His Philosophy

Introduction to Thomas Hobbes

• 17th Century English Philosopher
• Most famous work: Leviathan (1651)
• Full title: Leviathan or the Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiastical and Civil
• Focus on the state and human nature

Structure of Leviathan

• Divided into four parts
• Course focus:
  • Human Nature
  • The state of nature and the formation of governments (commonwealth)

Hobbes' View on Human Nature

• State of Nature: Referred to as "natural condition of mankind"
• Philosophical thought experiment about pre-civilization human existence
  • Equality in strength and mind among men
  • Conflict arises from equality:
    • Competition for the same resources
    • Equality leads to enemies as all are capable of contesting for resources
• State of Nature as War:
  • Not constant fighting, but potential for conflict
  • Described as "nasty, brutish, and short"
• Fear and Uncertainty: Continual fear of violent death

The Commonwealth

• Reason for Commonwealth:
  • To escape the state of nature
  • Humans enter into agreements (covenants)
• Difference from Animals:
  • Animal agreements are natural, human agreements are artificial
  • Requires common power for consistency and sustainability

Establishment of Commonwealth

• Purpose: Protect from foreign invasion and internal conflicts
• Governance:
  • Power conferred to one person or assembly
  • Submission of individual wills for common peace and safety
• Types of Commonwealth:
  • Commonwealth by Acquisition: Forced submission
  • Commonwealth by Institution: Voluntary agreement

Hobbes' Laws of Human Nature

• First Law: Humans naturally seek peace (absence of war)
• Second Law: Willingness to relinquish natural rights for peace and defense

Critiques of Hobbes

• Hypothetical Nature of State of Nature:
  • No anthropological or archaeological evidence
  • Human beings are inherently social, contradicting Hobbes' solitary description
• Thought Experiment: Lacks empirical backing

Influence of Hobbes

• Key figure in 17th-century philosophy
• Leviathan: Influential on concepts of government and human nature

Conclusion

• Hobbes' work, while influential, is largely theoretical
• Raises questions about the validity of his assumptions on human nature and governance

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These notes provide a high-level summary of the key themes and insights from the lecture on Thomas Hobbes and his philosophical contributions, especially concerning human nature and the formation of states.