Thomas Hobbes Leviathan - 801 Words

The true essence of Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan is a well-constructed story that examines human nature. Hobbes’ introduces Leviathan during a chaotic period filled with death and a voyage of human expansion, which leads to the creation of a logical and sustainable society. This society is the commonwealth and led by a sovereign. Upon first analysis, Hobbes’ explanation of the alteration to the commonwealth is questionable. Some weaknesses in Hobbes’ Leviathan can be easily found: the inconsistency of natural law with suicide and that of civil law to honor. Hobbes addresses some of these concerns head-on and seems to disregard others, however, he does tackle the most obvious protestation to his theory: the unrestricted and unstrained authority†¦show more content†¦By defining law of nature, Hobbes describes the core of human nature. Every human act, conscious or unconscious, aims at survival. According to Hobbes, the idea of self-preservation is the only constant norm found in the actions of humans. Hobbes contends that man seeks power in order to ensure that no man will be able to take away their self-preservation, due to their endless appetite for self-preservation. Stemming from man’s thrust for power over one another, constant fighting and war emerges to ensure their survival. (Fukuyama 1992) It does not matter how much power one man currently posses, he must continually gain more and more power, for this is the only avenue to guarantee his self-preservation. Crocker, Lester G. Rousseaus Social Contract; an Interpretive Essay. Cleveland: Press of Case Western Reserve University, 1968. Fukuyama, Francis. The End of History and the Last Man. London: Penguin, 1992. Hobbes, Thomas, and E. M. Curley. Leviathan: With Selected Variants from the Latin Edition of 1668. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub.,Show MoreRelatedThe Leviathan By Thomas Hobbes1890 Words   |  8 PagesIn The Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes presents a highly cynical and thoroughly negative view of the natural condition of human beings. Hobbes understands humans as inherently suspicious and fearful of one another. Left to our natural state, people prove incapable of harmonious coexistence and instead aggressively pursue their own security. To achieve this end, men will belligerently defend what they view as theirs and endeavor to dominate as many others as possible. This understanding of security, howeverRead MoreLeviathan, By Thomas Hobbes838 Words   |  4 PagesIn Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes, he talks about nature, man, liberty, and other topics. Mr. Hobbes says that â€Å"nature hath made men so equal,† but how can we determine how they are equal? We can say everyone is equal befor e they come into the world, except when they are actually in the world, no one is the same. Everyone is different in some way, whether it be with respect, money, or just social gains. One man can claim any benefit to his satisfaction, but is it only satisfying to himself or othersRead MoreEssay Thomas Hobbes Leviathan1938 Words   |  8 PagesThomas Hobbes Leviathan Above anything else, Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan is a creation story and an investigation of human nature. The story begins in a time of chaos and death and through a journey of human development culminates in the establishment of a sustainable and rational society—the commonwealth—led by a sovereign. At a first casual glance, Hobbes’ reasoning of the transformation from the state of nature to the commonwealth is not airtight. A few possible objections can be quickly spotted:Read MoreThomas Hobbes s Leviathan 1190 Words   |  5 PagesThe source which will be analysed is the frontispiece of Thomas Hobbes most famous work ‘Leviathan’ and ‘Leviathan’ as a whole. The frontispiece is considered as prominent as the arguments put forth by Thomas Hobbes in the ‘Leviathan’ itself. The frontispiece depicts a crowned figure grasping a crosier and a sword. This figure, or ‘Leviathan’, represents the all-powerful, co mprehensive state. When looked at closely, the torso and arms of the figure are made up of hundreds of individual people, whoRead MoreThomas Hobbes Leviathan Essay1029 Words   |  5 Pages A state of nature is a hypothetical state of being within a society that defines such a way that particular community behaves within itself. English philosopher Thomas Hobbes proclaimed that, â€Å"A state of nature is a state of war.† By this, Hobbes means that every human being, given the absence of government or a contract between other members of a society, would act in a war-like state in which each man would be motivated by desires derived solely with the intention of maximizing his own utilityRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes Leviathan1008 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish philosopher, Thomas Hobbes’, leviathan consists of three parts. The second part, titled â€Å"Of Commonwealth†, describes a government Hobbes refers to as the â€Å"leviathan†; which is simply defined as â€Å"something that is very large and powerful†. Biblically, â€Å"leviathan† is defined negatively, as a devilish sea monster. On the contrary, Hobbes uses the term to portray his version of the ideal government. Hobbes emphasizes the concept of human nature. He explains that there are both negative andRead MoreLeviathan by Thomas Hobbes Essay589 Words   |  3 PagesLeviathan by Thomas Hobbes In 1651, Thomas Hobbes published Leviathan, his famous work that detailed his physicalist outlook and his concept of the value of a social contract for a peaceful society and the nature of man. His major belief was that man is a beast that defines his identity through the need to be controlled under some kind of external, oppressive power. This essay will explain Hobbes’ views of man’s identity in the society and will demonstrate how it was mirrored in the politicalRead MoreEssay on Thomas Hobbes Leviathan970 Words   |  4 Pages Born during a period of medieval philosophy, Thomas Hobbes developed a new way of thinking. He perfected his moral and political theories in his controversial book Leviathan, written in 1651. In his introduction, Hobbes describes the state of nature as an organism analogous to a large person (p.42). He advises that people should look into themselves to see the nature of humanity. In his quote, â€Å" The passions that incline men to peace, are fear of death; desire of such things as are necessary toRead MoreThomas Hobbes Leviathan Argumentative Essay1178 Words   |  5 PagesIn Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan, Hobbes argues that humans are inherently only self-interested and will do anything to benefit themselves (Hobbes, 6). Before they form society, humans live in the state of nature. This is a brutal place governed by no laws, contracts, or power to restrict human nature. People are free to kill each other without no repercussions, forcing everyone to constantly fend for themse lves and live in fear of being killed. He describes this as the worst way to live life, one thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes s Leviathan 2457 Words   |  10 Pages Laviathan, Thomas Hobbes most important work and one of the most substantial philosophical texts of the Seventeenth century, was written largely as a response to the political violence and turmoil of England’s civil wars. In Leviathan, Hobbes, using science and reason as a foundation, attempts to create a concrete and methodological solution for peace and political stability. In the context of a historically violent and fear stricken period in which Leviathan was written, it is logical