Thomas Hobbes’ Theory

Hobbes Philosophy
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Hobbes’ Theory
Thomas Hobbes described the role of fear of death in the political organization of society. He says fear of death drives the desire for a safe and secure society. The natural fear of death among men drives the need for a sovereign state whose primary purpose is to offer protection. In one of his works, the Leviathan, he came up with the phrase ‘state of nature,’ which describes a state of freedom where leadership is absent. He suggested that in such a society, people are ready to fight one another to protect themselves and their property. Furthermore, people are selfish, and everyone wants to be powerful. The appetite for power may result in anarchy, as before civilization.
Naturally, people are in a constant state of fear and can kill each other. The natural law of existence allowed those with power to acquire and hold on to property for as long as possible. Before civilization, people lived in suspicion of one another because of constant fear of attack. Mutual fear brings people together to form a government that protects them from one another. People re-direct their fear of each other to the fear of the state, which is the higher power. The existence of a sovereign state creates laws that dictate what is wrong and what is right, creating order in society.
The laws of nature protect people from evils that are naturally human. The laws allow people to co-exist in society without harming themselves or each other. The first law encourages people to protect themselves and preserve their lives. Men should avoid engaging in activities that may lead to their death and commit to that which protects their life. The other law of nature promotes the protection of life across society. This law encourages people to agree to maintain peace through social contracts. To create a contract, people come together and create a sovereign by agreeing to a set of laws. The sovereign protects people from harming each other.
According to Hobbes’ state of nature, the causes of conflict among men are competition, mistrust, and glory. Competition makes men behave unfairly towards others for material gain. They may use force or violence to gain control over their perceived competitors. Mistrust causes people to be suspicious of each other and anticipate conflict. Therefore, men stay prepared to fight whenever they feel threatened or attacked. People are naturally egocentric and selfish. They wish to be glorified and to be praised for their reputation.
How Hobbes’ claim has been demonstrated and duplicated.
An ancient Greek philosopher, Plato founded a philosophical academy where he taught about theoretical and practical philosophical doctrines. His doctrines are recognized as Platonism. Plato’s major contributions to philosophy include the theory of forms and the theory of soul. Plato’s theory of forms states that the material world is non-existent and physical items are imitations. According to this theory, things are classified into the unchanging world of ideas backed by reason or the perceived world of material objects based on senses that vary from time to time.
According to Plato’s theory of the soul, the soul gives life to the body and decides how people behave. The soul is also responsible for the moral properties of an individual and is involved in the decision-making process. He believed that the soul still exists after death and may be reborn into other bodies. In addition, this theory explains that the soul consists of reason, spirit, and appetite. The reason is responsible for thinking and seeking the truth. The spirit is related to anger or temper, while the appetite is connected to one’s desires.
Hobbes believed that in the state of nature, people were uncivilized, and the only way to create order in society was to institute a higher power. The sovereign body would protect people from each other and promote peace. On the other hand, Plato’s theory of soul implies that an individual’s soul guides their actions. According to him, the soul controls one’s desires and can make logical decisions. Therefore, whether there are laws or not, people can make reasonable decisions that promote coexistence within society.
Thomas Hobbes’ contribution to the state of nature and social contract influenced the dynamics of several governments in history. According to Hobbes, man was born with the natural urge to act in self-preservation. This state of nature leads to men being at war with each other. A social contract is created when people agree to abide by rules to govern them. The agreement creates a sovereign power that is more powerful than any individual in the society. The fear of each other is now redirected to the fear of the sovereign. This idea forms the baseline of a government with sovereign power over its people. People trust the government to keep them safe and secure.
Hobbes’ ideas greatly influenced the formation of the first principles of the U.S. government. America’s founding fathers established the first principles that laid the foundation for the American Republic. They understood that people were created equally and possessed innate rights. The people then agree to institute a government to protect their human rights. The government, in this case, derives its power and consent from the people it governs.
The first principles include the social compact, limited government, the rule of law, equality, and unalienable rights. The First Principle of the Social Compact idea is backed by the need for individuals to live peacefully and eliminate the fear of war among themselves. It acknowledges that members of a community form the government, and the government derives its powers and consent from the people it leads. The first principle of limited government mandates that the government’s legitimate purpose is to protect people’s unalienable rights. The government should be strong enough to protect human rights and should not go beyond that purpose.
The first rule of the law principle indicates that the law is meant to govern all people. On una...