Thomas Hobbes
English Political Philosopher
Leviathan, or the Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiastical and Civil
Biography (some discrepancy on the dates)
Hobbes life spanned the reign of Charles 1st., the Civil Wars, the Commonwealth and the Protectorate, and the Restoration.
1588 born in Malmesbury
1602 admitted to Magdalene Hall, Oxford
1608 appointed tutor to the son of William Lord Cavendish. Hobbes was introduced to Euclidian geometry, and extended its method into a comprehensive science of man and society.
1610 left England
1640 after his political writings had brought him into disfavor with the parliamentarians, he became tutor to the Prince of Wales at the exiled English court in Paris
1651 Leviathan published; and aroused the antagonism of the English group in France, and his thorough materialism offended the churchmen returns to England to finish out his life peacefully
1679 died
Major works:
De Cive 1642
Leviathan 1651
De Homine 1658
Behemoth 1680
Overview
Leviathan, a mechanistic theory of human nature, is arguably the greatest piece of political philosophy written His goal was to explain the origin of political institutions and to define their powers and right limits.
Life is simply the motions of the organism and that man is by nature a selfishly individualistic animal at constant war with all other men. In a state of nature, men are equal in their self-seeking and live out lives which are nasty, brutish, and short. Fear of violent death is the principal motive which causes men to create a state by contracting to surrender their natural rights and to submit to the absolute authority of a sovereign. The sovereign power, which is derived originally from the people, is absolute and not subject to the law. Temporal power is also always superior to its subjects and also ecclesiastical power....there is no peace among men unless there is a supreme power to keep them all in awe...in the third and fourth parts, Hobbes outlin es the principle which should govern the relation between the state and church, and attacks the universal claims of the Roman Catholic Church...Religion, is manšs invention, the result of his ignorance and fear. Religious power and dogma are used to serve the interests of the priests. (No wonder he was in constant trouble at home and abroad!!!!!) Common-wealth
1) The good of the sovereign and the people can not be separated. The sovereign is not bound by the contract or covenant; the contract is among those who are to be ruled If the sovereign is not able to protect his subjects, the subjects are absolved of obedience to him. The sovereign must act as a legislator and let the laws be known and understood. The civil law of a commonwealth is made up of all those rules which prescribe what is right and wrong for the subjects. Ignorance of Civil Law may excuse a man provided he had not the opportunity to hear the law declared
2) The proper thing of the subject, who has not right to judge, is to obey. If the sovereign is an infidel, then the subject must obey because the law of nature justifies the sovereignšs power in a commonwealth, and to disobey would be to disobey the laws of nature which are the laws of God. (I thought he didnšt believe in a God?) Take away obedience, and the state shall not only not flourish, but in short time be dissolved. People should not dispute the sovereign power how great a fault it is to speak evil of the sovereign representatives. Subjects are to be taught, not to affect change of their government...People are not to be in love with any form of government they see in their neighbor Nations, more than with their won, nor want to change it.
3) The power of Ecclesiastical is but the power to teach and yields to the supreme Civil sovereignty leader or group...but the civil power is subject to the Spiritual: therefore he that hath the supreme Power spiritual, hath right to command temporal Pri nces, and dispose of the Temporal in order to the spiritual...may a spiritual commonwealth command a temporal one. Hobbes believes that an absolute monarchy to be the best form of sovereignty. He believes that one who deserteth the Means, deserteth the Ends. No Law, made after a Fact done, can make it a Crime.
Contribution:
Hobbes believed it to be O.K to talk negatively about the church but he had definite reservations about talking against the sovereign. Believing that people should just obey. People should have the privilege to be able to speak about other positive aspe cts of different cultures and also the negative occurrences in their own culture/government. I personally feel that his greatest statement for liberty was, No law made after a fact done, can make it a crime. (a major point of law in this country!)
Bibliography
Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought. Hobbes Leviathan. Cambridge University Press1992.
Charles, H. Hinnant. Thomas Hobbes. Twayne Publishers, 1977,
Laird, John. Hobbes. London: Bouverie House, E.C.4 1934.
Rogers, G. and Ryan, A. Perspectives on Thomas Hobbes. Clarendon Press. 1988.
Sorell, Tom. Hobbes Toutlege and Kegan Paul Inc. 1986.
Taylor, A.E. Thomas Hobbes. Kennikat Press.1908.
Information by Michael Fernandes