Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: English Civil War, Systematic Chaos, Materialism
5 Oct 2016
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According to the preferred definition of politics from last lecture, politics : necessarily involves violence, requires strong leaders c. Is a way of dealing with conflict: is best left to the experts. State of nature: thomas hobbes (1588-1679, god father of modern economics, wrote leviathan in 1651 post english civil war, also wrote behemoth 1679, kings have the right to rule because they are sons of adam . Hobbesian themes: fear ( fear and i were born twins , war (philosopher of war, peace (also a great philosopher of peace) What does hobbes claim: worst scenario: no state protection, remove state power = humanity falls apart, powerful state is needed to avoid disastrous interpersonal conflict, main premise: human nature. Hobbes on human nature: 2: predominantly self-regarding/interested, other people"s interests matter, but not as much as your own, seek to enhance our reputation or glory, averse to our own death, equally vulnerable, equally able.
