Thomas Hobbes Leviathan Essay

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According to the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, it is apparent that reason can guide one’s actions, given the appropriate conditions, and thus, it can be inferred that mankind is capable of rational behavior. In Hobbes’ Leviathan, equality plays a major role in his theories of man in the state of nature and their reasoning regarding the formation of governing institutions. Hobbes concludes that mankind has equal rights to anything. This aspect of mankind’s equality must be controlled to create any sense of security, so that man can feel safe. In other words, Hobbes makes the argument why a strong government power is necessary to prevent war amongst mankind. Hobbes states that if the government abuses the power they have, it's a necessary evil that mankind must pay for having peace. Hobbes claims that the sovereign has authority to uphold power over matters of faith and doctrine, and if he doesn't he is setting up mankind for conflict. Throughout Leviathan, Hobbes defends the environmental product view by arguing that due to the influence of the outside world on man, mankind will never truly reach complete equality. The causes of violence and strife stem from mankind’s nature, and thus, mankind should submit to the authority of the government in order to obtain peace and order. …show more content…

He argues that no judgments or consequences can be made without government based on his idea that all of mankind is a product of the environment. In other words, justice and injustice does not exist before a government is created to say what is right and wrong. Hobbes’ view of equality suggests that men have no restraint and are likely to act out in violence. All of mankind exists in equality, where every man only looks after himself. The aspect of selfishness of man is revealed in his views. Thus, Hobbes states that once government has restricted some of man’s rights, conflict would ultimately be retrained, for mankind’s

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