Thomas Hobbes Leviathan Analysis

Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill lays out his argument for why it is best to have a strong monarch as the sovereign of a country. He terms this ideal ruler as the “Leviathan”, and the sovereign is granted this power by the people, a notable change from the reasoning of the supposed divine right to rule, used by kings and monarchs as well as their supporters. Hobbes realized that this philosophical reasoning, as opposed to a biblical or religious one, would be more likely to resonate and make more logical, coherent sense to the subjects that the “Leviathan” ruled over. In this work, Hobbes writes of the essential natural right pertaining to all mankind. Hobbes also

He says that, “Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of war, where every man is enemy to every man; the same is consequent to the time, wherein men live without other security, than what their own strength, and their own invention shall furnish them withal”. He depicts a particularly unpleasant and pessimistic view of human nature sans a power strong enough to keep men from being enemies. He goes on to list a number of things that have no place in such a nature, such as: no industry, no account of time, no arts, and no society, amongst others. And, with possibly his most famous phrase, he declares, “and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” And possibly in recognition of the fact that the natural condition of man will seem abstract to many, he goes on to give examples of the perceived violent and selfish nature of mankind. Hobbes tells us, “Let him therefore consider with himself, when taking a journey, he arms himself, and seeks to go well accompanied; when going to sleep, he locks his doors; when even in his house he locks his chests”. Hobbes’s point is that we always take precautions when going places and when we go to sleep because we are relatively more vulnerable and aware of the potential damage and harm men can do. He also points out that, “this when he know there be laws, and public officers, armed, to revenge all injuries shall be done him”. So, according to Hobbes, even though we know that we have other measures that keep us safe and that we can use for revenge, we still always take precaution because of the brutal and nasty nature of man. Mankind’s inherent destructive nature leads Hobbes to the conclusion that, since each man has the natural right to protect his life, a strong leader who rules with consent of the governed, is