Lecture Notes: Thomas Hobbes and Political Philosophy

Introduction to Hobbes

• 17th-century English philosopher.
• Notable for exploring the extent of obedience to rulers and the rationale for revolution.
• Deeply influenced by the English Civil War.
• Lived from 1588 to 1679, most works written after age 60.

The English Civil War

• Began when Hobbes was 64 years old.
• A divisive conflict between King and Parliament.
• Approximately 200,000 deaths.
• The impact led Hobbes to value peace and fear chaos.

Early Life and Influences

• Naturally peaceful and cautious.
• Father was involved in a violent incident that impacted Hobbes from a young age.

Major Work: Leviathan (1651)

• Key text advocating for obedience to government authority.
• Written to argue against chaos and bloodshed in the absence of authority.

Political Theories of the 17th Century

• Divine Right of Kings: Obedience to monarchs because God appointed them.
• Social Contract Theory: The right to rule lies with ordinary people, not kings.
• Hobbes’ critique of both:
  • Saw divine right as unpersuasive.
  • Feared social contract theory could lead to endless rebellion.

Hobbes’ Argument in Leviathan

• Describes a pre-government period: The State of Nature.
  • Without authority, humans would engage in conflict and chaos.
  • Life would be "nasty, brutish, and short."
• Governments formed to escape chaos, hence should be obeyed.
• Limited rights to protest; revolt only justified if life-threatening danger is posed by the ruler.

The Role of the Ruler

• People must obey even if the ruler is oppressive.
• Disobedience could lead to worse chaos: perpetual war of every man against his neighbor.
• Governance seen as inconvenient but necessary.

Hobbes’ Philosophy

• Dark and cautious view of human nature and government.
• Relevant in discussions of government overreach and revolutions.
• Emphasized the relationship between protection and obedience.

Conclusion

• Hobbes wrote Leviathan to reflect on the balance of protection and obedience without bias.
• His theories continue to be relevant in discussions of politics and authority.