Thommas Hobes - Leviathan. Nathan Kellen. October 6th, 2015

Transcription

1 Hobbes Thommas Hobes - Leviathan Nathan Kellen University of Connecticut October 6th, 2015

2 Table of Contents

3 Hobbes begins with a discussion of a thought experiment called The State of Nature. He imagines a world where there is no government and asks: what would it look like?

4 Hobbes begins with a discussion of a thought experiment called The State of Nature. He imagines a world where there is no government and asks: what would it look like? According to Hobbes, such a world, and the lives in it, would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

5 Hobbes begins with a discussion of a thought experiment called The State of Nature. He imagines a world where there is no government and asks: what would it look like? According to Hobbes, such a world, and the lives in it, would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. In order to see why this is, consider Hobbes view of human nature.

6 Human Nature Hobbes claims the following are true of human natures:

7 Human Nature Hobbes claims the following are true of human natures: 1. People need certain resources to live

8 Human Nature Hobbes claims the following are true of human natures: 1. People need certain resources to live 2. These resources are scarce

9 Human Nature Hobbes claims the following are true of human natures: 1. People need certain resources to live 2. These resources are scarce 3. People are roughly equal in strength and power

10 Human Nature Hobbes claims the following are true of human natures: 1. People need certain resources to live 2. These resources are scarce 3. People are roughly equal in strength and power 4. People are inherently selfish

11 Human Nature Hobbes claims the following are true of human natures: 1. People need certain resources to live 2. These resources are scarce 3. People are roughly equal in strength and power 4. People are inherently selfish The last of these is particularly important for understanding Hobbes view.

12 Ethical Egoism Hobbes is a proponent of ethical egoism: the theory that what we morally ought to do is pursue our own interests.

13 Ethical Egoism Hobbes is a proponent of ethical egoism: the theory that what we morally ought to do is pursue our own interests. Compare this to the previous three moral theories we ve considered. What are the differences?

14 Egoism and the State of Nature According to Hobbes, the state of nature is perpetual war amongst people. This is because what people ought to do (and what he thinks they will do) is pursue their own livelihood, and do whatever is necessary in order to live well.

15 Egoism and the State of Nature According to Hobbes, the state of nature is perpetual war amongst people. This is because what people ought to do (and what he thinks they will do) is pursue their own livelihood, and do whatever is necessary in order to live well. But because resources are scarce and in high demand, people will fight one another in a existence of near total anarchy.

16 Egoism and the State of Nature According to Hobbes, the state of nature is perpetual war amongst people. This is because what people ought to do (and what he thinks they will do) is pursue their own livelihood, and do whatever is necessary in order to live well. But because resources are scarce and in high demand, people will fight one another in a existence of near total anarchy. In order to avoid this, Hobbes says that we ought to band together in a social contract.

17 Hobbes suggestion is that people combine and form societies, with rules that must be adhered. This is what is often called social contract theory.

18 Hobbes suggestion is that people combine and form societies, with rules that must be adhered. This is what is often called social contract theory. Although social contract theory has both a moral and political part, we ll focus on the moral case.

19 Hobbes suggestion is that people combine and form societies, with rules that must be adhered. This is what is often called social contract theory. Although social contract theory has both a moral and political part, we ll focus on the moral case. For Hobbes, morality is something that arises as a practical solution to the problem of the state of nature.

20 Hobbes suggestion is that people combine and form societies, with rules that must be adhered. This is what is often called social contract theory. Although social contract theory has both a moral and political part, we ll focus on the moral case. For Hobbes, morality is something that arises as a practical solution to the problem of the state of nature. Ultimately Hobbes thinks that we have a egoistic (selfish) reason to be moral - because it s better than the alternative.

21 The Social Contract Hobbes social contract has two general laws of nature:

22 The Social Contract Hobbes social contract has two general laws of nature: First, that everyone should seek peace, except when it cannot be obtained, and then one should do what they must to obtain it.

23 The Social Contract Hobbes social contract has two general laws of nature: First, that everyone should seek peace, except when it cannot be obtained, and then one should do what they must to obtain it. Second, that everyone should be willing to give up their liberty to obtain peace.

24 The Social Contract Hobbes social contract has two general laws of nature: First, that everyone should seek peace, except when it cannot be obtained, and then one should do what they must to obtain it. Second, that everyone should be willing to give up their liberty to obtain peace. The second is pithly summed up as: [everyone should] be contended with so much liberty against other men as he would allow other men against himself.

25 The Nature of Natural Laws For Hobbes, these laws of nature are not like political laws, or like physical laws.

26 The Nature of Natural Laws For Hobbes, these laws of nature are not like political laws, or like physical laws. Instead, they are a general rule of reason.

27 The Nature of Natural Laws For Hobbes, these laws of nature are not like political laws, or like physical laws. Instead, they are a general rule of reason. They are commands of rationality, given the earlier predisposition to ethical egoism, the view that what we ought to do is to further our own interests.

28 Hobbes and Kant Compare this view to Kant s. What are the similarities? What are the differences?

29 Hobbes and Deontology Recall that we are using Hobbes an example of a deontological ethical theory. Why does he count as deontological?

30 Hobbes and Deontology Recall that we are using Hobbes an example of a deontological ethical theory. Why does he count as deontological? Hobbes suggests that we will lay down a set of rules to society which follow from the general laws of nature. Once these have been laid down, it is our moral duty to follow them, as members of the social contract.

31 Hobbes and Deontology Recall that we are using Hobbes an example of a deontological ethical theory. Why does he count as deontological? Hobbes suggests that we will lay down a set of rules to society which follow from the general laws of nature. Once these have been laid down, it is our moral duty to follow them, as members of the social contract. So on Hobbes account, it is our moral duty to follow the laws of society, stemming from our general moral duty to further our own interest.