Hobbes' State of Nature
When one examines the maxim of Thomas Hobbes as set forth in Leviathan it becomes obvious that Hobbes believes the nature of man to be bad. According to Hobbes, if we as men were left to exercise our own private judgement regarding our affairs we would most assuredly collapse into a state of war. He believes that when there is no singular, ever-present power to keep man in awe, and to control man by fear of punishment from that singular power, that man will break his agreements and act in his own self-interest. "For the Lawes of Nature (as Justice, Equity, Modesty, Mercy, and (in summe) doing to others, as wee would be done to,) of themselves, without the terrour of some Power, to cause them to be observed, are contrary to our natural passions, that carry us to Partiality, Pride, Revenge, and the like. And Covenants, without the Sword, are but Words, and of no strength to secure a man at all." (Hobbes, pg.117) The laws that are enacted are contrary to our self-interest, so without the terror of some ever-present power to instill fear in all man, we would abstain from no measure in order to preserve our own well being. In a state of war man is in "a Continual fear and danger of a violent death; and the life of man (is) solitary, po
In Thomas Hobbes Leviathan a convincing argument is given for the benefit of an absolute power in a governmental system. Whether or not you agree with Hobbes depends inherently on your belief in the nature of man. If as Hobbes believes, the nature of man were so bad that without a sovereign there would be war among men, then obviously, a sovereign would be needed to maintain peace and to keep all men in fear of punishment. If not for that ever-present fear of punishment, man would do whatever was in his self-interest, eventually leading all to a state of chaos and war. I do not believe that Hobbes' account of political power is convincing because I do not believe the nature of man is that bad. Hobbes states that in order for a sovereign to rule he must have "absolute" power. Because I believe in man as a whole I do not believe any man needs nor deserves absolute power over another. With a sovereign there is no system of checks and balances to reinforce equality in the government. I believe that Thomas Hobbes argument for a singular, all powerful sovereign in Leviathan is compelling, however, I also believe in the rights of man, and I do not believe that any one person should have control over the affairs of all. In order to fulfill his role, the sovereign must retain certain powers that enable him to do so. These powers are as follows in no particular order; First, subjects cannot change the form of government because they entered into a covenant willingly and being bound by that covenant they cannot lawfully make a new one without permission. Second, the sovereign retains the right to make laws, and in making these laws he has the right to punish and reward people as he sees fit so as to preserve the Lawes of nature. Third, the sovereign's power can never be fortified because he made a covenant with the whole and it would be impossible to make covenants with each and every single man for it would make each covenant void. Fourth, the sovereign's power can never be forfeited because he made a covenant with the whole and it would be impossible to make covenants with each and every single man for it would make each covenant void. Fifth, the sovereign has the right of choosing all counselors and ministers, both of peace and war and also the right of making war, and peace, as he thinks best.
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Approximate Word count = 1553
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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