PHIL 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Authoritarianism, Liberal Democracy, Positive Liberty
20 May 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Natural rights: rights that are held prior to the social contract, rights that are pre-political , rights that all men possess. Would be impossible to live comfortable and civilized in the state of nature. The life of man would be nasty, brutish and short . There would be continual fear of death and violence. There will be constant competition for everything that is considered the best. Hobbes account of human motivation: primary source of individual motivation is fear of others. Hobbes account of the purpose of the sovereign: All people are rational beings and will see that the state of nature is contrary to our interests. Everyone wants peace so will seek a sovereign to resolve the state of nature. The desire for peace will lead everyone to lay down their to all things and mutually consent to the authority of the sovereign. Its role is to protect those who have obligated to obey.
