Overview
This lecture explores Thomas Hobbes's political philosophy, focusing on his justification for obeying government authority even when rulers are imperfect, shaped by the trauma of the English Civil War.
Hobbes's Background and Influences
- Thomas Hobbes was a 17th-century English philosopher most active after age 60.
- The English Civil War, a violent conflict resulting in 200,000 deaths, deeply influenced Hobbes's thinking.
- Hobbes disliked violence, partly due to personal family trauma from childhood.
Political Theories Before Hobbes
- The "Divine Right of Kings" claimed monarchs ruled by God’s will and required obedience.
- This theory was losing credibility as religious faith declined in Europe.
- "Social contract" theory argued rulers gain power from the people and should rule only as long as it benefits them.
Hobbes's Main Work: Leviathan
- Published in 1651, "Leviathan" argued for obedience to government to avoid chaos.
- Hobbes disagreed with both divine right and unlimited social contract rebellion.
The State of Nature and Social Contract
- Hobbes described the "state of nature" as a time before government, marked by violence and insecurity.
- In the state of nature, life would be "nasty, brutish, and short."
- To escape this, people form governments for protection, willingly but also out of fear.
Hobbes’s Argument for Obedience
- People have a duty to obey even flawed rulers to prevent a return to chaos.
- Only if a ruler directly threatens lives do people have a right to resist.
- Economic hardship, oppression, or lack of freedom are not sufficient reasons for revolt.
- Hobbes insisted that people needed a strong authority because they cannot govern themselves peacefully.
Key Terms & Definitions
- State of Nature — The hypothetical condition before government, where life is insecure and violent.
- Social Contract — The agreement by which individuals unite into a society and accept authority for protection.
- Leviathan — Hobbes's term for a powerful authority or sovereign created to impose order.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review main arguments from "Leviathan" on government authority.
- Compare Hobbes’s views with other social contract theorists in future readings.