22, February 2008 Hobbes's Leviathan: The Social Contract 1. The State of Nature a. "a war of all against all" i. Brutal condition b. A thought experiment c. International relations i. If want to see how interact internationally, first look at states interaction d. Civil War i. When political authority is called into question ii. When no one knows who has the authority iii. When it breaks down, find a situation in which everyone pursues their own self interest e. How Bad is it? i. Its really bad ii. "..which is worst of all, continual dear and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty and brutish and short" (pg.76) iii. Without authority 1. No distinction of property 2. No just/unjust 3. Nothing like this comes "naturally" a. Not naturally social b. Not naturally political f. More evidence of our rationally, self-interested Nature? i. Introspection 1. Looking into yourselves 2. If want to understand humans, look at yourself 3. Because the rest of mankind is driven by the same kind of passions and desires 2. Hobbes's View of Power a. Everyone is after power b. Why? c. From Hobbes perspective, human beings do not share a universal goal, end point i. Some want salvation, money, freedom ii. There is no shared sense of what is ultimately important to human beings iii. "For there is no such Finis ultimus (utmost aim) nor Summun Bonum(greatest good)..."(pg.57) iv. We do not share an ultimate resting point or an ultimate end 1. Our desires, dreams, goal change 2. There's no final resting point of ultimate aim v. The most we can hope for is Felicity 1. You can lead a life with the desires proceeds in a successful manner vi. Power is the present means to obtain a future end
1. Generalized term to accommodate the means to which we attempt to obtain 2. Power becomes a focus 3. What we desire is not to enjoy something once, but to ensure forever our future desires a. Use power to obtain this 4. In order to ensure current power, then we want more power a. Then no one can supplant us b. This leads to competition c. We are the constant competition over riches, honor and command i. Because these give us the power to achieve what we want ii. Ultimately leads to the war of all against all d. When do we have enough power? i. We never can have enough 5. "A perpetual and resless desire of power after that power ceaseth only in death" a. A race with no finish line b. Must compare ourselves with others to judge us c. To lack desire, it to be dead d. Constant movement 6. State of nature is situation in which there is very little security 3. Hobbes's view of Equality a. We are all equal i. "in" authority** ii. Not necessarily a good thing, it's a bad news/good news situation iii. Fear of constant death iv. If political balance falls apart, there is no natural division and inequality that puts one above the other v. People will not naturally remove themselves of civil war or power b. Faculty of the body i. Even the strongest individual has to sleep ii. Even the weakest can kill the strongest iii. Bodies are roughly equal iv. Brute force won't get you out of the state of nature c. Faculties of the mind i. Differences aren't that great ii. How we understand the world has to do with prudence 1. "For prudence is but Experience, which equal time equally bestows on all men..."(183) iii. Wont be able to recognize brainiacs that can rule over the rest of us iv. Cant remove yourself from state of civil war by force, won't start civil society
d. We have our own distinct set of desires and conceptions of the good i. We're all equally vulnerable to death ii. We have equal brain capacity iii. On some level, when we're in state of nature, all share a passion for the fear of death 1. No matter how smart, strong we are, everyone will fear death 4. How to Get out of the State of Nature? a. Options that Hobbes Rejects i. Appeal to natural law 1. Hobbes's appeals to natural law to remove from state of nature a. Maybe does/doesn't 2. Natural laws are generally contrasted between natural and man made law a. Natural are universal to all mankind b. Positive are those made by human beings c. There are laws that are naturally applicable to human society, even without government d. We would have natural obligations to live a certain way and treat one another particularly e. In state of nature, no one has the right to command others i. Properly speaking, no one has the authority to rule the rest ii. Appeal to Natural Rights 1. We can think our way out of civil war? 2. Fundamental nature right a. The state of nature and the right to self-preservation b. Alienable rights i. Can surrender c. Inalienable rights i. Can not abstain ii. You can self-preserve