Hobbes Account Of The State Of Nature - 2258 Words

Does Hobbes’ account of the ‘State of Nature’ involve a false generalisation about human nature? Hobbes’ state of nature has been used as a philosophical and political basis for the actions and policies of many modern governments. According to Hobbes, the state of nature is â€Å"the Naturall Condition of Mankind, as concerning their Felicity, and Misery.† The Hobbesian state of nature was a condition in which many European peoples existed under conditions of â€Å"high moral density† or morality but with no â€Å"common power to keep them all in awe.† He argued that the state of nature was a nonpolitical and antipolitical condition. The constitutive elements of the natural state were primarily and fundamentally individuals who were free and equal and who lived in natural associations such as families or households. In the state of nature, a scarcity of desired things created competition for resources, distrust (â€Å"diffidence†), and glory (war and conquests). In Hobbes’s view, the natural condition for each European man was to be in a state of fear of desiring others, resulting in personal and collective wars. Considering the circumstances in which Thomas Hobbes was raised, the conclusions he reached concerning mankind are not surprising. For the entirety of his early adult life, the Thirty Years War raged in Europe causing total destruction. England soon experienced civil war in 1642 and Cromwell waged war against Scotland, Ireland and Holland.1 It is fair to conclude from this thatShow MoreRelatedHobbes And Kant s Theory Of Morality1447 Words   |  6 PagesHobbes and Kant both give a different account of the foundations of morality. Drawing from Hobbes’ Leviathan and Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, I will compare their understanding of the foundations of morality. I will discuss the conflicting accounts of the role played by reason versus the role played by desire and inclination in the determination of what is good, evil, right or wrong. Hobbes claims that ordinary experiences establish human beings as self-interested and are drivenRead MoreAristotle And Hobbes : A Comparison Of Human Nature1641 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle and Hobbes: A Comparison of Human Nature Theory Aristotle and Hobbes present two fundamentally distinct doctrines about the conception of politics, human affairs, and the nature of man. Specifically, both philosophers express vying interpretations of human nature. Even though Aristotle and Hobbes similarly use their understanding of human nature to conceptualize their politics, they both express differing views about the aims for which they believe human beings act and exist. In a ratherRead MoreHobbes View Of Human Nature1495 Words   |  6 Pagesstraightforward notion of pessimism, this essay will argue that Hobbes’ view of human nature is not pessimistic. Firstly, this argument will be supported by an explanation of some of Hobbes’ theoretical assumptions, which reveal his stance on human nature. More specifically, his theory on the state of nature becoming a state of war, and the steps he takes to arrive to this conclusion, will be outlined to ultimately demonstrate that Hobbes does not depict mankind pessimist ically. Then, a critical assessmentRead MoreHuman Nature Establishes Political Authority982 Words   |  4 PagesNow that we have an understanding of the three different accounts of the state of nature, it is important to understand the differing accounts of how human nature establishes political authority. Hobbes believes that because the state of nature is a constant state of war, the role of government must be to protect the people to protect people from themselves. Therefore, the purpose of political authority is to enforce law and order, and that the purpose of government is to control and be authoritativeRead MoreThe s Claim That Freedom Within Nothing More Than The Absence Of Physical Or Legal Constraints1730 Words   |  7 PagesCritically assess Hobbes s claim that freedom consists in nothing more than the absence of physical or legal constraints. In Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes attempts to set up the stage for the understanding of the nature of freedom. The account holds much significance, because, what people understand freedom to be matters a great deal to their past and present life. According to Hobbes, freedom implies â€Å"the absence of opposition (by opposition I mean external impediments of motion) †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hobbes, 2005, P157)Read MoreThe Crisis Of Modernity Within Political Liberalism928 Words   |  4 Pagesa substantial factor to arguments that modern man will do anything he to achieve his vision of what â€Å"greater human life is or can be†. Through the reflection of the thoughts, experiences, and writings of Thomas Hobbes, one can can to begin to question where the crisis arises from. Hobbes argues that â€Å"modern man no longer knows what he wants† and has lost â€Å"faith in reason’s ability to validate its highest aims† manifesting into a spiraling crisis where modern man cr eates a destructive path betweenRead MoreBoth Hobbes And Locke Can Be Considered The â€Å"Founding Fathers†1685 Words   |  7 PagesBoth Hobbes and Locke can be considered the â€Å"Founding Fathers† of liberal political philosophy. Both theorists give their own accounts of human nature as well as how and what their concept of a government should look like. Hobbes and Locke also agree on most aspects of each other’s theories but also have contrasting opinions for their own notions. Hobbes’s conception of the best fitting government in which humans would be able to live freely and happily, would be that which is governed by an allRead MoreJohn Locke: Founding Father of Modern Era Liberalism1444 Words   |  6 PagesThomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and John Locke are all great thinkers who were greatly influential in forming philosophies that would affect the future of politics. By analyzing each philosopher’s ideology, we can identify which thinker’s theory reflected modern era liberalism the most. For this paper I will be arguing that, John Locke provides a more compelling framework of modern era liberalism because of his perception of the state of nature, the social contract and the function of governmentRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke1348 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish writers, philosophers, and politicians to expand upon the notion of human nature, based on their own beliefs and experiences. Two of these renowned English thinkers, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, embodied the rising movement of using reason to make judgments on government, society, and the role of the king. Despite approaching the question of human nature with similar foundations, The State of Equality, Hobbes and Locke develop entirely opposing arguments, reflected in their position supportingRead MoreModern Liberalism and Political Policies1337 Words   |  6 PagesLiberalism Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau’s political philosophies and theories each differ from one another’s, but these three philosophers have all staked their claims as to what man would be like, prior to the formation of the state. This is the State of Nature. Their notions on the social contract reflect their position on the political spectrum. These three philosophers also examine the purpose and function of the government to individuals of the state. Modern liberalism