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Thomas Hobbes: Key Events & Philosophy

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher born in 1588 who published influential works on political philosophy and the social contract. In his 1651 book Leviathan, he argued that in a state of nature without government, humanity would be in a state of war and competition with one another due to equal abilities and desires. To establish safety and order, Hobbes believed humanity must cede some individual rights and freedoms to a sovereign authority like a strong central government. Hobbes' views were influenced by his experience of the civil war and political instability in 17th century England.

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115 views3 pages

Thomas Hobbes: Key Events & Philosophy

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher born in 1588 who published influential works on political philosophy and the social contract. In his 1651 book Leviathan, he argued that in a state of nature without government, humanity would be in a state of war and competition with one another due to equal abilities and desires. To establish safety and order, Hobbes believed humanity must cede some individual rights and freedoms to a sovereign authority like a strong central government. Hobbes' views were influenced by his experience of the civil war and political instability in 17th century England.

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ThomasHobbes(15881679CE)ImportantEvents

Born
1588
inEnglandtomiddleclassparents(notroyalornoble).
AttemptedinvasionofEnglandbySpanishforcesduringthesameyear.

1608
graduatesfromOxfordUniversitywithadegreeinclassics(Greekand
Romanlanguageandhistory)

1610
goesonagrandtourofEuropeseesmanydifferentformsof
monarchicalrule

1629
beginstostudyphilosophy

1640
publishes
TheElementsofLaw
inwhichHobbesfirstconsidersthe
natureofthesocialcontract

16421648
Englandgoesthroughaperiodofcivilwar.Theconflictcuases
widespreadchaos,destruction,anddeath.

1651
HobbesfleesEnglandduetounrest

1651
Hobbespublished
TheLeviathan
inwhichhefullyoutlineshissocial
contractandtheneedtocederightsinordertoestablishsafetyandorder.

TheStateofNatureasDescribedin
TheLeviathan
byThomasHobbes
(Modified)

HobbesLeviathan,publishedin1651,outlinedthephilosophythathumanitymust
giveupsomeindividualfreedomtosecureorderandsafety.Belowisthesection
onthestateofnature,orthenaturalstateofman.

NATUREhathmademensoequalinthefacultiesofthebodyandmind,asthat,
thoughtherebefoundonemansometimesmanifestlystrongerinbodyorof
quickermindthananother,yetwhenallisreckonedtogetherthedifference
betweenmanandmanisnotsoconsiderableasthatonemancanthereuponclaim
tohimselfanybenefit.For,astothestrengthofbody,theweakesthasstrength
enoughtokillthestrongest,eitherbysecretdesignorbybindingwithothersthat
areinthesamedangerwithhimself.

Fromthisequalityofabilityarisethequalityofhopeintheattainingofourends.
Andtherefore,ifanytwomendesirethesamethingwhichneverthelessthey
cannotbothenjoy,theybecomeenemies.Ifoneplant,sow,build,orpossess,a
convenientseatothersmayprobablybeexpectedtocomedispossessanddeprive
himnotonlyofthefruitofhislaborbutalsoofhislifeorliberty.

Herebyitismanifestthat,duringthetimemenlivewithoutacommonpowerto
keepthemallinawe,theyareinthatconditionwhichiscalledwar,andsuchawar
asisofeverymanagainsteveryman.


Answerthefollowingquestions,usingevidencefromthetexttosupportyour
case:

1. DoesHobbessuggestthatthebasicnatureofHumanityis
good
or
evil
?

2. WhydoesHobbessuggestthatHumanitymustalwaysbein
competition?

3. WhatisacommonpowerthatmightkeepHumanityinawe?What
mightthatpowerlooklike?

4. Whatevents(usethetimeline)mighthaveinfluencedHobbesviewson
humannature?

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