Leviathan Written by Thomas Hobbes - Essay Example

 Introduction Thomas Hobbes in an England born philosopher who much contributed to the modern philosophy in the 17th century. His main interest was in political philosophy, history, ethics and geometry. He contributed much to political philosophy with the main notable ideas being modern founder of the social contract tradition and also life in the state of nature is poor and short (Hobbes and Gaskin, 1998, p. 54) He also developed European fundamental liberal thoughts such as the rights of individual and equality nature of men. He developed political order that later led to the distinction between civil society and the state (Hobbes and Missner, 2008, p. 121). Hobbes formed different chapters in arguments with the main being chapter three of the leviathan with the view of human in the natural state. Fool arguments was mainly based on the chapter 15 of the leviathan. Leviathan chapter 15 In leviathan the philosopher set out the doctrines to the foundation of the state and creating objective science of morality which led to social contract theory which was written during the English civil war. (Hobbes and Gaskin, 1998, p. 132) Hobbes 15 was not foolish since it brings the understanding of the people on how life would be without the government. He referred it as state of nature. In the set of condition, everyone in the state would have the licenses and right to everything that the individual wants. (Huggins, 1995, p. 90) there is no ownership of anything in the nature setting and this makes the inability of a contract to be given. There is no commonwealth in the set and makes it there being nothing illegal or unjust in the society. This would lead to the war of all against all as Hobbes described it. In the condition, there would be no need of industries since the outcomes would be uncertain. There would also be no societies, no knowledge of the happenings of the earth and no account of time. (Hobbes and Missner, 2008, p. 76) This would just lead to more fear amongst the people, the danger of violent deaths making the life of the people poor, nasty and short. In a state without a government, people would fear death and lack the necessities required for better living with no hop to work to get the necessities. (Hobbes and Gaskin, 1998, p. 312) Due to the fear and lack of the necessities, the people agreed to social contract which led to the formation of civil society where some rules and rights were placed for the sake of protection in the society. (Huggins, 1995, p. 34) The necessity of the decision was that the power exercised by the authority could not be resisted since the power was put by the individuals for their protection. The decisions to the sovereign were by the individuals and hence were the authors of all the decisions. According to Hobbes decision there is no doctrine of separation of powers. The individuals control the military, civil, judicial and religious powers. (Rutherford, 2012, p. 86) Chapter 15 of the leviathan focuses on the law of nature. The law consist the fountains and the origins of justice. From where no covenant has been precede, they have no right been transferred and individuals have rights to everything making no action to be unjust (Hobbes and Missner, 2008, p. 200). Covenants of mutual trust which entails fear of not performance is invalid though the original of justice be the making of covenants. (Huggins, 1995, p. 45) Before judgment of the just and the unjust, some powerful actions to compel the men to the performance of their promises by the terror of some punishment. Hobbes argued that were there is no ownership, there is no injustice. The approach led to fools saying that there was no such things as justice and every man’s conversation and contentment were committed to one’s own care. (Huggins, 1995, p. 162) It argued that keeping or failing to keep covenants was not against reason when it was majorly conducted to ones benefit. He did not deny being in covenants but said that the covenants are sometimes kept and sometimes broken. He questioned whether injustice was taking away the fear of God the fool said in his heart that there is no God (Dunn, 1997, p. 21). He forgot that there is sometimes no reason that directs to every man his own good. The kingdom of God is gotten by violence but not unjust violence. The fifth law of nature according to Hobbes states that every man strives to accommodate one’s self to others. The sixth law states that upon keen look on the future time, a man needs to pardon the offences one does. Pardoning is just granting of peace that even when granted not for peace but for fear yet not granted to them. The seventh law is based on revenge that is exchange of evil for evil (Hobbes and Gaskin, 1998, p. 43). People look not at the greatness of the evil past but to the greatness of the good to com after. Because of the hatred men mostly prefer to risk their life to prevent revenge. The eight law of nature states that no man through actions or words should declare hatred (Dunn, 1997, p. 24). The nature has no man being better than the other and all being equal. Hobbes also viewed wise men contented by force by those that distract their own wisdom and they always get victory. The equality would not be noticed when the nature provides that all men are equal. If nature made the men unequal they would not be able to enter into peace conditions. Leviathan chapter 15 is foolish (Dunn, 1997, p. 67).The fool argues that justice is something that is not there and argues that the people can just do things their own way and in any way they think is right for them. The foolish argument is that there is no need to people keeping word and adherence to covenants and the covenants that they made. (Rutherford, 2012) The argument Hobbes put forward in chapter three contradicts the fool since he argues that people should strictly follow the conditions of the covenants that they make.in the normal situation, one people do not strictly follow the laws and covenants that they are exposed to. Fools also propose that there is a possibility of a commonwealth member to break agreements with the sole aim of making more benefits. The fool also argues that there is no problem in breaking of a covenant since it is reasonable to do what is necessary to benefits one’s self (Dunn, 1997, p. 89) Hobbes corrects them by saying that the deeds are not accepted in the commonwealth and believes that no one could do without commonwealth which also can be compromised since men survive with the state of nature (Rutherford, 2012, p. 67). Fool believed that men survive with the state of nature and hence they ignored Hobbes arguments. Fool believed that there is no common power resulting to no law in the society. Without law, there is no justice. Hobbes says that going against the law was unjust. Fool said that if a man is in the natural state, he is not being in any way unjust (Hobbes and Gaskin, 1998, p. 87). This made the philosopher’s argument to be weakened. Hobbes used inheriting the kingdom to make the reason of not breaking covenants. Foolishness comes when he later argued that there is no knowledge of man’s estate after thy die. The fool proved that Hobbes arguments were made from assumption and he tries to invalidate them after doing a poor job (Hobbes and Missner, 2008, p. 121). The fool’s arguments are possible and more likely. The fool came up with the assumptions that Hobbes had in his work. They include self-interest meaning that individuals naturally desire own contentment above everything. He also assumed that individuals are materialistic making them not have control of their thoughts. The fool focuses in the self-interest and supports rebellion. They have the ideas that self-interest is what leads to being unjust. The fool questioned whether there is justice since a society has a man doing his own thing. Conclusion Leviathan chapter 15 by Hobbes is foolish. Hobbies himself formulates the claims in which others again he comes to contradict. Fool claims that are relatively true disqualifies all his thoughts and brings more complexities to his laws of nature (Rutherford, 2012, p. 68). The law of nature should not apply in a society. Hobbes and the fool both had contradictions and also each had the question on whether the other would perform. Hobbes urges that there is no consideration of the turnout of activities but the fact there a person is in a position to move on. According to the arguments between Hobbes and the fool, the leviathan chapter 15 is foolish and when there was depiction of the laws, human would never get out from the state of nature and if they did not do so, there would be no occurrence of such a state. The foolishness in Hobbes assumptions tend to be taken into consideration and take control currently. References Dunn, J. 1997. Hobbes. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Hobbes, T., & Gaskin, J. 1998. Leviathan. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hobbes, T., & Missner, M. 2008. Leviathan. New York: Pearson Longman. Huggins, J. 1995. Leviathan. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. Rutherford, D. 2012. Laughing at Leviathan Sovereignty and Audience in West Papua. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Shaver, R. 1999. Hobbes. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate. Westerfeld, S., & Thompson, K. 2009. Leviathan. New York: Simon Pulse. Read More