POLS 2900 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Scientific Method, No Substance, Leviathan
9 May 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Hobbes: Nature, Contract & Sovereignty
January 21, 2016
1) "Natural Condition of Mankind"
• Also called the infamous state of nature
• Chapter 13 - excercise of the imagination
• His speculation to engage in with his scientific method
a) condition of human nature (not history)
• This is where reason, science and society come in
• If the laws were removed the conditions would be very chaotic
b) A Moral, not result of "sin"
• our natural condition is not sinful nor good or bad - it is a mechanical system
• "the desires and other passions of men are no sins..."
• Its law that establishes what is good and bad, moral and just
• If we are without common law we make up what is good and bad, if you live in a commonwealth
then you have the rule of law
• M said men are wicked - Hobbes is letting all of this go as there is no right and wrong in things in
themselves
-Justice a product of human artifice
• In this condition nothing can be unjust
• Justice is a human product (artifice)
• Agreed upon standards in our society is what we make just
c) Natural Equality & Natural Right & No Natural Hierarchy
• Hobbes is grounding this in science - by nature everyone is equal - this is a factual argument - we
can all kill each other even when your physically weaker you make over power the bully - even
in the faculties of mind we are all inherently equal. This means that there are no natural rulers
(hierarchies). This kind of equality leads to competition. Why does it lead to competition?
• Natural right - Sovereignty is grounded in the natural rights of the individuals.
-Right of self-preservation
• Chapter 14 page 79: The right of nature is the liberty each man has to use his power for the
preservation of nature. This means that we all have a right to self-preservation but in our
judgment we all are constantly be making judgment calls - without a common power to restrain
individuals you can do anything to anyone. This is something that is natural and you can't give
up - it is rooted in our physiology - there are no limits to your actions.
• Natural right means the right to self-preservation for Hobbes
-unlimited is State of Nature
• Freedom is a state of perfect of equality. In this state of nature it gives us freedom but is
dangerous. We are always seeking power - one of the most important sources of power is the
power you get in reputation from others - they will see as a threat anything that offends there
honor and dignity. We react when anyone is disrespecting us in some way.
d) Competition, Diffidence, Glory (vainglory/pride most dramatic)
• These are very distinct and distractive for human beings
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