Thomas Hobbes Analysis

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Is the creation of a sovereign the only way to avoid conflict? Explain and assess the logic of Hobbes’ argument regarding the passage from the state of nature to absolute sovereignty.

Thomas Hobbes wrote the Leviathan as a testament as to how the running of a country should be done, according to him. His works came out in a time of great political instability. His most famous piece of writing, The Leviathan, published in 1651 midst the English civil war. Although Hobbes philosophy on the universe was moderately basic, his views on absolute sovereignty and commonwealths were masterpieces.

Leviathan begins with Hobbes belief that civil peace and social unity can only be achieved through the establishment of a commonwealth, which in turn
Our freedom is limited through politics and government, one could question whether there would truly be chaos in a country where they were to be lacking? Individuals do not need to be saved from themselves. Hobbes (1996) conveys that a totalitarian reign is unnecessary and that in a country where by a “state of war” wants to be avoided sovereign is a major vital element.

It is argued by critics of Hobbes that regardless of the government is present or absent country could still be a state of war, Renngger and Kennedy-Pipe (2008). To further prove these points the look to countries who are at war today, prime example Ukraine. Ukraine’s government has failed to protect both its country and people according to BBC correspondent Stern (2014) The "prime minister" of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, has been quoted as saying his army could soon mount a campaign to take three towns in the region, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Mariupol. Hobbes declared that this could not happen - that the sovereign could ‘do no wrong’ but the sovereign’s power is limited, it depends on the co-operation of its people and the people in this case opted for a non government state. If a country has citizens who refuse to cooperate with their people then Hobbes’ theory of a sovereign falls

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