Hobbes And The Natural State Of Nature Essay - 1514 Words

A hallmark of Thomas Hobbes political philosophy lies in his delineations of two distinct conditions which men can reside in; the state of nature, and the commonwealth led by a sovereign, otherwise referred to as the Leviathan. In order to illustrate how the former state gives way to the latter, Hobbes constructs a perception of nature in which the lives of men are riddled with ambiguity, fear, and distrust. He proposes, then, that the optimal civil society is not constructed by embracing the natural state of man, but by entering into a commonwealth that restricts and subdues the limitless rights, actions, and motivations of men. Indeed, Hobbes’s view of nature shapes his political theory by motivating him to suggest the creation of artificial political structures in order to subjugate the chaotic reality of the natural state of man. Firstly, Hobbes concludes that the extent of human action is boundless in the state of nature, and entering into a civil society is the sole way of constraining the actions and abilities of man. Hobbes asserts that all men are naturally motivated by power, and will take whatever lengths necessary to acquire advancement. Since there are no limitations to what a man may achieve in nature, the measures that one could take to achieve domination are only hindered by individual physical boundaries. There is no regulatory force that would impede any man from doing anything. Thus, Hobbes concludes that in the state of nature, â€Å"every man has a RightShow MoreRelatedEssay about Comparing Hobbes and Lockes Versions of the Social Contract1349 Words   |  6 PagesComparing Hobbes and Lockes Versions of the Social Contract Thomas Hobbes, author of Leviathan, claims that peace and unity can best be achieved by setting up a society by having humans agree to a covenant (Hobbes: Ch.18 pg.548). 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Hobbes is largely known for his writing of the â€Å"Leviathan†, and Locke for authoring An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Included in their essays, both men discuss the purpose and structure of government, natural law, and the characteristics of man in and out of the state of nature. The two mens opinion of man vary widely. Hobbes sees man as being evil, whereas Locke viewsRead MoreEssay on The Natural Ways of Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau1207 Words   |  5 PagesIn today’s society, human nature is a commonly used term. On the other hand, there is not just one concept of human nature, but rather a plethora of concepts surrounding the idea. With the rise of capitalism, social structure is reformed; it is during this rise in the early seventeenth and eighteenth century, that John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau introduce their varying opinions surroun ding man in nature. The western philosophers mainly concern themselves with the concept of the