Hobbes has a very negative view of human nature. He feels that all people are self-serving. They act in ways that only benefit themselves. Every action we perform, no matter how charitable or benevolent, is done for reasons that are ultimately self-serving. For instance, if a

Because people are self-interested, they want the best life possible. Giving up some of their freedoms, so to protect them, will give people the best possible lives. Building covenants, held in place by a sovereign, is in the self-interest of all men. All men want peace. Show them that by entering and maintaining covenants, they will have peace.

Hobbes establishes specific laws of nature, which aim to preserve the human life. Defined by Hobbes, " A Law of Nature (lex naturalis) is a precept, or general rule, found out by reason, by which a person is forbidden to do which is destructive of his life, or that takes away the means of preserving the same; and to omit that by which he thinks it may be best preserved" (Hobbes, p.121). The first three are the most important because they establish the basis for ending the war caused by the state of nature.

Covenants will work; they have for centuries. Every nation has laws. These laws are binding agreements in which people give up some of their freedom in order to secure the protection of their lives. Although Hobbes' ideas are harsher than the covenants practiced today, the philosophy is very similar. His punishments are more intense, according to his reasoning, people in fear are not going to break their agreements. A cruel punishment is necessary to force people to keep their word. Still, some may attempt to break it. The irrational man, looking out for his short-term interest does not see the consequences of his actions. He will break it when he sees fit. By making an example of him and severely penalizing, you can insure that this behavior will cease. People will realize that they too will be exiled and eventually be killed when they break their covenants.

Hobbes does allow for the right of self-defense. Self-preservation, according to Hobbes is the only reason for entering the contract to begin with. The covenant would not be worth anything if one were forced to give up that right.

When a person decides to break their covenant, they will be expelled from society. They will be forced to reenter the constant state of nature, which will lead to their premature death. The fear of being ostracized should outweigh the benefit of breaking the covenant. It is the foolish man who does not see this reason. Looking at the short-term gain, he sees only what he wants and the benefits it will bring him. He does not look at the long range. If he did, he would realize that breaking the covenant is against his self-interest. Once it is known, that he broke this covenant he will be exiled and no longer received in any community.

The first is to seek peace and follow it. Reason suggests that peace is better than war, so one should try to go about obtaining it. The second says that man will do everything possible to achieve peace. War is not in man's best interest; so it is best to avoid it. The third is based on both the first and the second. It says that all people should willing give up all of their liberties. The mutual transferring of these rights is a covenant, and one becomes obligated to uphold it. For instance, I give up my right to kill you, and you give up your right to kill me. We become obliged not to kill each other. It is from self interested reasons alone that that we are both motivated to mutually give up these and other rights, since

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Approximate Word count = 2258
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)