Hobbes compares the art of governing the world by man to the natural governance by God, referring to man’s creations as artificial.
Automata (like watches) are described as having artificial life, akin to living beings with springs (heart), strings (nerves), and wheels (joints).
The Leviathan, or Commonwealth, is an artificial man, greater in stature than a natural man, with sovereignty as its soul.
The roles within this Commonwealth are likened to body parts: magistrates and officers as joints, rewards and punishments as nerves, wealth as strength, and pacts as the creation act.
Understanding Human Nature
Wisdom is often perceived as reading men rather than books.
Hobbes critiques the misunderstanding of self-awareness and the misinterpretation of human behavior by comparing it to others.
True understanding comes from introspection and recognizing shared human passions and thoughts.
Sense and Perception
Thoughts originate from sensory experiences; all ideas come from sense, either in totality or in parts.
Sense is described as a reaction to external objects pressing upon sensory organs, creating an internal counter-pressure.
Contrary to Aristotle, Hobbes argues against the notion of external objects sending species to the senses.
Imagination and Memory
Imagination is decaying sense, existing in both waking and sleeping states.
Memory is a form of imagination that is fading and past.
Imagination can be simple (a singular object seen) or compound (creation of new entities like a centaur from existing perceptions).
Dreams are imagination during sleep, influenced by internal bodily states.
Train of Thoughts
Thoughts succeed one another due to past sensory experiences.
There are two types of thought trains: unguided (random and wandering) and guided (driven by desire or design).
Mental discourse, or the train of thoughts, can lead to new insights or be a reflection of past experiences.
Speech and Language
Speech is essential for the development of reason and the ability to convey thoughts.
The invention of language is credited to God, who taught Adam to name creatures.
Language enables the registration and communication of thoughts, crucial for societal development.
Reason and Science
Reason is likened to arithmetic, involving the addition and subtraction of concepts.
The process of reasoning requires precise definitions and logical progression from them.
Errors in reasoning are due to incorrect definitions or improper use of terms.
Reason is not innate but developed through learning and methodical thinking.
Conclusion
Hobbes emphasizes the importance of clear definitions and logical reasoning as the foundation of knowledge and science.
Misuse of language leads to absurd conclusions and superstition.
True wisdom involves both experience (prudence) and scientific reasoning (sapience).
Education should focus on dispelling myths and encouraging critical thinking.