Thomas Hobbes and His Work "Leviathan"

Introduction to Hobbes' "Leviathan"

• Significance: Represents a paradigm shift in political thought.
  • Combines physical science methods with materialist political theory.
• Key Concepts: State of nature, social contract, and a pessimistic view of human nature.

Hobbes’ New Science of Politics

• Structure of Leviathan: First 16 chapters focus on human nature, not directly on politics.
• Scientific Approach: Uses Galileo’s methods to analyze human nature as the basis for politics.
• Mechanistic View: Humans as bodies in motion, rejecting dualism (thought vs. matter).
• Goal: End war, promote peace and cooperation.

Fundamental Human Psychology

• Desires and Aversion: Human behavior driven by continuous desire for power.
  • Happiness is progress from one desire to another.
• Reason and Self-Preservation: Reason as computation.
  • Fundamental will to survive.
• Moral Relativism: Good and evil are subjective.
• Self-Perception and Conflict: Desire for esteem leads to competition.

The State of Nature

• Hypothetical Scenario: War of all against all; life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."
• Equality in Insecurity: Fundamental equality leads to suspicion and potential for conflict.
• Need for Authority: Without common authority, insecurity prevails.

Rights and Laws of Nature

• Right of Nature: Self-preservation.
• Laws of Nature: Rational means to peace, discovered through reason.
  • Seek peace, lay down certain rights for coexistence.
  • Treat others as you'd like to be treated.

Creating the State

• Social Contract: Exit the state of nature by forming a political community.
  • Submit to a sovereign for enforcement of laws.
• Sovereign's Role: Ensure security, act on behalf of the people.

Rights of the Sovereign

• Near-Absolute Power: Maintain peace with wide-ranging powers.
  • Justifies actions on behalf of subjects.
• Sovereignty by Institution or Acquisition: Consent or conquest.

Liberty of the Subjects

• Obedience to Sovereign: Laws must be followed.
• Right to Self-Defense: Exists even against sovereign commands.
• Potential Right of Resistance: In certain immoral or life-threatening conditions.

Religion in Leviathan

• State Over Church: Prioritizing state over independent religious authority.
• Controversy: Some see Hobbes’ ideas as atheistic or undermining traditional theism.

The Frontispiece

• Artwork Representation: State as a collective body governed by a sovereign.
  • Symbolism of justice and ecclesiastical power.
• Political and Religious Implications: State as a mortal God without religious overrule.

Conclusion

• Influence: Hobbes’ work advances secular political theory, influencing future political philosophy.
• Further Exploration: For more on Hobbes or other theorists, additional resources are recommended.