POG 235 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: De Cive, Materialism, Levellers
14 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
The century of revolution: sovereignty and consent in 17thc england. 17c great transformation": the road to agrarian capitalism. Enclosure of commons/private property vs communal propety rights. Social dislocation: fear of masterless men" and the many-headed hydra" of the multitude". Charles i attempts to impose power of crown. Question of consent and right to vote posed. Thomas hobbes" leviathan: a multitude of men is made one person . Influenced by scientific materialism of galileo, francis bacon and descartes. An atomistic" view of society: a multitude of men is not any one body, but many men, whereof each one has his own will and judgement. (de cive) Authority and political order: the tongue of man is trumpet of war and sedition . No common interest: fear of death and self preservation most basic appetite. State of nature: men are free and qual but driven by competition, difference and glory. A war of every man agaist every man .
