Hobbes: 1588-1679

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of nature - if all restraints removed - no civilization (P186)

2. Nature and Contract

Greatest Appetite: Power

Greatest Aversion: Death

Natural Right - Self Preservation (P189)

Two Laws of Nature

First Law: Every man, ought to endeavor Peace…

Second Law: Whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do you to them.

Contract/Covenant (P191, 192, 198-199)

Commonwealth/Sovereign (P225-228)

To confer all their powers and strength upon one Man, or upon one Assembly of men

3. Power of the Sovereign

Nature of sovereign power

Nature of justice

Take away the right to kill from the state of nature => One man

Right of the sovereign

• Absolute power, even to kill the innocent

• Decides what is right and necessary for the good of the commonwealth

• Censorship

• Makes the civil laws, though not bound by them

• Final judge & arbiter of all controversies

• Conscription & taxation

• Makes war & peace

Executive+Legislative+Judicial Power

Responsibilities of the sovereign

• Protect subjects from one another and from foreign powers

• Ensure the conditions people need to pursue industry

• Don’t abdicate, relinquish or divide sovereignty

• Instruct subjects

• To uphold the sovereign’s legitimacy and authority, and not question it

• To abstain from violence against their subjects

• Not to seek political change or desirous of neighbors’ form of govt.

• to respect others’ property

• Make good laws (needful, good for the people, perspicuous)

• Apply the law and taxes equally

Sovereign unable to protect citizens - certain changes will be made

2017.9.13

Hobbes Contributions/Shortcomings

Contributions

• States of Nature and the roots of insecurity/drive for power

• Theory of government based on a social contract

Limitations

• Emphasis on peace-not on abuse of power

• Develops no theory about how power can be held in check

• Apologetic theory of enlightened absolutism

1. One’s contract can be transferred to another

2. Sovereignty: One man => An assembly of men

Hobbes pleases nobody.

He doesn’t go far enough among monarchies.

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