In the following work the conception of the natural state of the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) will be discussed. Hobbes’ entire understanding of the state can be regarded as a development series, thus his idea of people and the natural state are important
conditions for the later state resulting from it. Only due to this, it becomes understandable why Hobbes designed the state as one with a sovereign leader who has almost unrestricted power. The work refers primarily to the mainwork of Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan. The particularly relevant chapters are chapters 13 and 14. The first part of this work will display Hobbes’ idea of people, the second part will analyse the natural state and the final consideration will critically point out the coherence of the anthropology and natural state and will present my personal opinion.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction:
II. Anthropology:
III. Natural state:
III.1 Right of nature:
III.2 Law of nature:
IV. Conclusion and outlook
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines Thomas Hobbes' concept of the natural state, primarily through his seminal work, Leviathan, to explain the necessity of an absolute sovereign power as the only viable mechanism to escape the destructive potential of human nature.
- The anthropological foundation of human nature as defined by Hobbes.
- The theoretical construct of the "natural state" (status naturale) as a state of war.
- The analysis of natural rights as the source of both individual liberty and interpersonal conflict.
- The role of natural laws and contracts in transitioning from a state of nature to a civil society.
Excerpt from the Book
III. Natural state:
As clearly recognized in Hobbes’ anthropology, the natural state, as a state without superior power, is not a pleasant or desirable condition. On the contrary, the natural state can be summarized with the concise formula "Bellum omnia versus omnes". It is a permanent state of war wherein each human is an enemy and opponent to his fellow man. This state of nature is characterized by the absence of agriculture, trade, art as well as literature and all other relations of human life. There is not even time calculation and "it prevails, which seems to be the worst of all, steady fear and danger of a death by force, the human life is lonely, poorly, nasty, bruty and short."
One can assume Hobbes sketches the natural state as a hypothetical construct. He does not assume that there have ever been such conditions in the history of mankind. "Perhaps one can hold the opinion that there has never been such a time and such a state of war as the described one, and I believe that it has never existed in that form in the whole world". And still, Thomas Hobbes recognises characteristics which resemble the state of nature in human’s social behaviour of everyday life. Thus he reminds us in chapter 13 of the fact that humans arm themselves at the beginning of a journey and that humans lock doors and boxes when they go to sleep and all this in spite of the existence of laws and armed officials. Therefore the natural state is not that unrealistic, only its pure form described above seems to be quite improbable. It is a primitive condition which lets human characteristics show up in all their cruel facets.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter introduces the focus on Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan, outlining the progression from his anthropological view of humanity to his political justification for an absolute sovereign.
II. Anthropology: This chapter analyzes Hobbes' mathematical decomposition of human nature, focusing on the axioms of fear of violent death and the drive for commodious living, which underpin his political philosophy.
III. Natural state: This chapter defines the state of nature as a perpetual war of all against all and analyzes how the absence of central power leads to a life defined by insecurity and competition.
III.1 Right of nature: This chapter explores the natural right as the absolute liberty of the individual to preserve their own life, which inevitably leads to conflict and the necessity of mutual distrust.
III.2 Law of nature: This chapter discusses how reason leads humans to create sixteen laws of nature to limit passions, emphasizing that contracts are the essential tool for escaping the state of war.
IV. Conclusion and outlook: This chapter critically reflects on Hobbes' ideas in a contemporary context, questioning whether his exclusively negative, antisocial view of man adequately accounts for altruistic human behavior.
Keywords
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, natural state, status naturale, Bellum omnia versus omnes, anthropology, natural right, natural law, commodious living, sovereign, social contract, individualism, self-preservation, political philosophy, state of war.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on Thomas Hobbes' conception of the "natural state" and how his understanding of human nature necessitates the creation of a powerful sovereign state.
What are the central themes discussed?
The core themes include the definition of human nature, the derivation of natural rights and laws, the concept of a state of war, and the necessity of the Leviathan as a guarantor of security.
What is the main research question of the author?
The paper explores how Hobbes’ specific view of human anthropology necessitates an authoritative state to prevent humanity from descending into total destruction and constant war.
Which scientific method does the author mention regarding Hobbes?
The author discusses Hobbes’ use of a mathematical-analytical method, where he dismembers the human being into components to understand human nature as a combination of rationality, inquisitiveness, and physical characteristics.
What is the core subject of the main chapters?
The main chapters provide a transition from the basic axioms of human nature to the manifestation of these traits in the "natural state," followed by a detailed exploration of natural rights and laws as procedural instructions for peace.
Which keywords define the paper's scope?
Key terms include Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, natural state, Bellum omnia versus omnes, natural right, natural law, and self-preservation.
How does Hobbes distinguish between a "right" and a "law"?
According to the text, a "right" implies the liberty to do anything necessary for self-preservation, whereas a "law" implies an obligation or rule that restricts human passions.
Does the author agree with Hobbes' negative evaluation of humanity?
The author argues that while Hobbes' logic is impressive, his negative view of man is incomplete, pointing to humanitarian volunteerism as evidence that humans also possess a significant social nature.
- Quote paper
- Georg Fichtner (Author), 2005, Thomas Hobbes and his concept of the natural state, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/50479
