What is the natural condition of human beings? How does the natural condition of human beings lead to war? What is the remedy of the natural condition of human beings? In his book, Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes states that human beings are equal and thus there is no greater good in life. Hobbes analyzes the natural condition of human beings by examining their desires and behavior. He further examines how the natural condition of human beings, if left to rule itself without the existence of the law, leads to conflict and war. Because the natural condition of human beings leads to war, he provides a suggestion that will enable them to live peacefully and co-exist. Hobbes explains that by nature, human beings are equal and they have an equal hope to …show more content…
achieve their desires; they will therefore strive to get what they want. If the natural condition of human beings is not controlled, there will be constant conflict and war. Therefore, the establishment of government is necessary. When talking about the equality of human beings, Hobbes says, “Nature hath made men so equal in their faculties of body and mind as that, though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body or of quicker mind than another. Yet when all reckoned together the difference between man and man is not so considerable as than one man thereupon claim to himself any benefit to which another may not pretend” (Leviathan, 74). Hobbes’ statement means that human beings are equal and no one is more superior to the other. Also, people who think that they cannot be harmed due to their strength or wit deceive themselves because, “the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination, or by confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself” (Leviathan, 74). In relation to wit, there are many resources that human beings could use to make themselves intelligent. Due to this, human beings are by nature equal to one another. His statement shows that all human beings are vulnerable to attacks and implies that they are capable of doing similar acts. Hobbes argues that due to equality, the natural condition of human beings is not a happy one as it leads to conflict and war. Hobbes continues to argue that it is natural for human beings to think that they are smarter than other people. He says, “For such is the nature of men that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be witty, or more eloquent, or more learned, yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves. For they see their own wit at hand, and other men’s at a distance” (Leviathan, 75). Hobbes’ statement reveals human nature as conceited and implies that human beings like to see other people succeed as long as they do not do surpass them therefore making them egocentric. Being conceited and egocentric are terrible attributes and by giving human beings these attributes, Hobbes implies one equal factor of human beings is that they are terrible. Hobbes also implies that human beings have the same abilities. Furthermore, Hobbes argues that, “from this equality of ability ariseth equality of hope in attaining of our ends” (Leviathan, 75). Therefore, in the hopes of getting what they desire, human beings will resort to anything and the desire to get what they want reveals their true character. As they strive to attain their desires, human beings make themselves enemies. He says, “ if two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies; and in the way to their end, which is principally their own conservation and sometimes their delectation only, endeavor to destroy and subdue one another” (Leviathan, 75). Hobbes’ explanation shows that human beings are competitive by nature. Hobbes also implies that human beings are influenced by self-interest. In an attempt to make themselves happy, human beings will use any chance they get to benefit over others, even it means that other people suffer from their selfish acts. According to Hobbes, it is natural for human beings to rate themselves highly and they also expect others to give them the same rate. He says, “for every man looketh that his companion should value him at the same rate he sets upon himself” (Leviathan, 75-76). However, this is impossible because all human beings view themselves as most important. Hobbes’ statement shows that by nature, human beings seek the approval of others. Hobbes also analyses three principle causes of quarrel, “first, competition; secondly, diffidence; thirdly, glory. The first maketh men invade for gain; the second, for safety; and the third, for Reputation” (Leviathan, 76). Regarding competition, Hobbes shows human beings are obsessed with power. They compete with fellow human beings, each desiring to overpower the other. The second cause of quarrel relates to the distrust between human beings. Since human beings have equal abilities yet they all hope to achieve their desires, they distrust each other and by nature want to have a better advantage over the other. This is because by nature, they are enemies to another, (cite) as one man wants to get a better advantage than the other. By seeking glory, human beings are able to secure their future happiness because glory comes about from having a good reputation. Seeking glory shows that human beings not only desire to maintain their present happiness but also seek to secure their future happiness. Glory seeking is therefore a form self-preservation. Hobbes challenges the people who might oppose his views to reflect upon their life experiences and observe their actions. He says,“let him therefore consider with himself-when taking a journey, he arms himself and seeks to go well accompanied; when going to sleep, he locks his doors; when even in his house, he locks his chest; and this when he knows that there be laws, and public officers, armed, to revenge all injuries shall be done to him” (Leviathan, 77). Hobbes therefore calls out those who oppose his views on their hypocrisy because their actions prove that they know the nature of human beings and what human beings are capable of. Hobbes adds that human beings even distrust the people they live with and their own blood. He says, “What opinion has he of his fellow subjects, when he rides armed; of his fellow citizens, when he locks his doors; and of his children and servants, when he locks his chest” (Leviathan, 77). Therefore, the actions and life experiences of human beings reveal their true character as capable of terrible inclination. In the state of nature, human beings are justified to do anything. Hobbes argues that by nature, it is the right of human beings to do anything in pursuing their desires. Hobbes does not condemn the desires of human beings because, “the desires and other passions of man are in themselves no sin. No more are the actions that proceed from the passions, till they know a law that forbids them. Which till the law be made they cannot know” (Leviathan, 77). His statement implies that justice and injustice do not exist in a person; instead, for justice and injustice to exist, a society is required. Hobbes therefore means that humanity in itself is not just but can be ruthless and destroy itself. It is the establishment of laws and society that makes humanity just. He therefore affirms that he has a pessimistic view on human beings’ motives and actions and regards them as ruthless. According to Hobbes, if the natural condition of human beings is not controlled, people will destroy one another. Consequently, Hobbes suggests that the natural condition should be remedied by formation of a central government because, “during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war, and such a war as is of everyman against everyman” (Leviathan, 76).
Hobbes explains that if human beings do not accept government, they will not live a peaceful life and their lives will be short due to constant war and the lack of justice. He also adds that government offers human beings a better life due to the advantages it gives them. Without government, “there is no place for industry, …no culture of the earth, no navigation, nor use of commodities that can be imported by sea, no commodious building, …no society, and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” (Leviathan, 76). Hobbes’ statement shows that he argues for civilization and sees it as important to humanity. He also implies that human beings are better off being governed than by governing themselves and they should therefore give up their natural power of governing themselves to a common power to govern them. This is evident when he says, “that a man be willing, when others are too, as far fourth as for peace and defense of himself, he shall think it necessary, to lay down his right to all things, and be contented with so much liberty against other men as he will allow other men against himself” (Leviathan, 80). In other words, for human beings to live peacefully, they have to give up some of their rights as it is impossible to meet the individual rights of all of
humanity. With the help of passions and reason, people find a way to come out of the state of lawlessness and be part of the civil society. Hobbes says, “The passions that incline men to peace are fear of death, desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living, and a hope by their industry to obtain them. And reason suggesteth convenient articles of peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreement” (Leviathan, 78). Hobbes admits that not all passions of human beings are evil and that fear is also good as it leads to the formation of government. His statement therefore reveals human character -
He states that, “Every one with every one...Shall be given by the major part, the right to present the person of them all” (Hobbes [1651] 2013). Thus, a democratic form of governance is beginning to emerge, and the responsibility of the sovereign is to form laws that avoid returning to a state of nature. Essentially, Hobbes presents a way of government that appears optimal, and capable of lasting a long term. The elected sovereign is not to be overthrown because through the unanimous decision of members of the state the sovereign was chosen, and maintain authority through deliverance of suitable laws (Hobbes [1651] 2013). Thus, citizens are more likely to comply with this form of government because they maintain the impression that their sovereign only looks out for their best interests, as well as recognizes what is best for them because he was chosen to be in
We will give Hobbes’ view of human nature as he describes it in Chapter 13 of Leviathan. We will then give an argument for placing a clarifying layer above the Hobbesian view in order to account for acts of altruism. Hobbes views human nature as the war of each man against each man. For Hobbes, the essence of human nature can be found when we consider how man acts apart from any government or order. Hobbes describes the world as “a time of war, where every man is enemy to every man.”
In the Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes has many different things to say about human nature and what drives men to commit certain actions. All of the actions committed by men and Thomas Hobbes theories revolve around two central ideas, competition and desire. And because of competition and desire, people can never reach true happiness. Man’s own desires and need to be better than the next person will stop true happiness. But in order to understand why Hobbes believes this, his view on human nature has to be looked at first. In Chapter 11 of the Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes places great emphasis on desire. Hobbes says that mankind always does whatever it needs to in order to accomplish its desires. When we accomplish one desire, we simply move on to whatever we want next. The progress that is made in accomplishing one desire and moving on to the next one is what he calls Felicity (Leviathan Ch.11). The reasons that men have desires in the first place are because we have a life style that we love and enjoy. So naturally, humans want to do everything they can in order to keep that lifestyle.
Thomas Hobbes says that there must be a strong sovereign because it is the only possibility other than the state of nature. In the state of nature every man is equal and having equal rights to all things, all would be in constant war against one another. In this case no one is assured that he will have the fruits of his own labor, and thus there is no labor done but life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short." That man would choose to remain in this state is not an option to Hobbes. He says that for men to "seek peace and follow it" is a law of nature. Thus for Hobbes obedience to the sovereign is a choice that everyone must make, because it is natural and reasonable to make it, and because it is the only option other than the state of nature.
In chapter XIII Hobbes states "To this war of every man against every man, this also is consequent; that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law: where no law, no injustice." In the state of nature where self-preservation is inevitable, justice and injustice have no place. Since Hobbes asserts that there is no justice, the sovereign again must govern through fear. Hobbes states “The passions that incline men to peace are fear of death, desire of such things are necessary to commodious living and by a hope by their industry to obtain them” When there is no justice or injustice, the sovereign must implement laws through fear to maintain the
”3 He believes that all men are equal in the state of nature despite any preexisting differences between them because they are ultimately powerful enough to defend themselves and their resources. “Nature hath made men so equal, in the faculties of the body, and mind; so that though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body, or of quicker mind than another; yet when all is reckoned together, the difference between man, and man, is not so considerable, as that one man can thereupon claim to himself at any benefit, to another may not pretend, as well as he. ”4 Hobbes implies that it is necessary for a civil government to dictate over its citizens because humans are naturally in a state of war, and equally capable I agree with Locke’s argument because it is necessary for a civil government to properly care for its citizens, which ultimately prevents the state of war from occurring in society.
Hobbes, as one of the early political philosophers, believes human has the nature to acquire “power after power” and has three fundamental interests which are safety, “conjugal affections”, and riches for commodious lives. (Hobbes, p108, p191) From this basis, Hobbes deducts that in a state of nature, human tends to fight against each other (state of war) to secure more resources (Hobbes,
Thomas Hobbes derived his theories by concluding that man in and of itself was evil. In addition, he felt that if left without a government authority, life would be "nasty, brutish, and short". In a direct result of the evilness of man comes the theory that self-preservation is the most imperative component of life. At all costs, one must uphold this right and do whatever is necessary to preserve it. Because every man in a state of nature can be based on one theory, it creates a state of equal mentality. If one man basis life around self-preservation, so will the next. With a society being in this perpetual condition, it creates a state of war. One man against all others—all equal in ability regardless of size or intelligence due to circumstances and willpower that can always level the playing field.
In sophisticated prose, Hobbes manages to conclude that human beings are all equal in their ability to harm each other, and furthermore that they are all capable of rendering void at will the covenants they had previously made with other human beings. An absolutist government, according to Hobbes, would result in a in a society that is not entirely focused on self-preservation, but rather a society that flourishes under the auspices of peace, unity, and security. Of all the arguably great philosophical discourses, Hobbes in particular provides one of the surest and most secure ways to live under a sovereign that protects the natural liberties of man. The sovereign government is built upon the idea of stability and security, which makes it a very intriguing and unique government indeed. The aforementioned laudation of Hobbes and his assertions only helps to cement his political theories at the forefront of the modern
Hobbes explanation of the state and the sovereign arises from what he calls “the State of Nature”. The State of Nature is the absence of political authority. There is no ruler, no laws and Hobbes believes that this is the natural condition of humanity (Hobbes 1839-45, 72). In the State of Nature there is equality. By this, Hobbes means, that there is a rough equality of power. This is because anyone has the power to kill anyone (Hobbes 1839-45, 71). Hobbes argues that the State of Nature is a violent, continuous war between every person. He claims that the State of nature is a state of w...
����������� Thomas Hobbes is an important political and social philosopher. He shares his political philosophy in his work Leviathan. Hobbes begins by describing the state of nature, which is how humans coped with one another prior to the existence of government. He explains that without government, �the weakest has the strength to kill the strongest� (Hobbes 507). People will do whatever it takes to further their own interests and protect their selves; thus, creating a constant war of �every man against every man� (Hobbes 508). His three reasons for people fighting amongst each other prior to government include �competition,� �diffidence,� and �glory� (Hobbes 508). He explains how men fight to take power over other people�s property, to protect them selves, and to achieve fame. He describes life in the state of nature as being �solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short� (Hobbes 508). Hobbes goes on to say that if men can go on to do as they please, there will always be war. To get out of this state of nature, individuals created contracts with each other and began to form a government.
In Leviathan, Hobbes seems to underestimate the motives of mankind. His pessimistic view of human nature sheds no light on the goods that men do. While human nature may create a sense of personal survival, it does not imply that human nature will lead towards violent behavior. When left to provide for themselves, mankind will work toward a peace that benefits them all. There will always be evil in the world which will disrupt the peace, but in the end the strength of men should triumph.
The argument referring to the nature of human beings and government is one that been debated for hundreds of years by many of the world’s greatest minds. John Locke and Thomas Hobbes are two opposing philosophers who have devoted many years to studying this subject. For Locke, the state of nature— the original condition of all humanity before civilization and order was established—is one where man is born free, equal and have rights that others should respect, such as the right to live and the right to liberty. For Hobbes, however, the state of nature is one of constant war; solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short ; it is, in Hobbes’ mind, civilization that separates humans from their primitive state. Hobbes believed that an individual’s only
Thomas Hobbes? idea of a perfect government was one of small proportions. All of the citizens of a country had a ?covenant?, or promise with the ruler. This covenant with the ruler stated that the citizen would give up the right to govern his or herself, and give that right to the ruler. Hobbes? idea of society arises from an innate competition between every man. Everyone seeks their advantage, and is always at war with everyone else for that advantage. These factions negotiate, according to Hobbes, complying with whatever principles will ensure survival for its members. So according to Hobbes, war is the natural state of man. Peace is only had by our natural tendencies to compromise, and survive.
Hobbes believes that if there is no government then it will lead to a state of war. This is because the people can have different judgement which cause them to not have an agreement on what the government should contain. This means that the people did not view each other as equal and did not have the same morals as Locke would believe in. It can also lead to a state of war if the people don’t have the right to property since it will cause the peace to break. However, the only type of state Hobbes believes in is the Leviathan state that has only one