Hobbes Social Contract Theory Essay
analytical Essay
559 words
Everyone looks at the work of a philosopher and is confused at first, but if you really look at that piece of work you would understand it.
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher from the 17th century who in now considered one of the greatest political philosophers. Hobbes is best known for his elaborate and early development of the social contract theory. The social contract theory is “the method of justifying political principles or arrangements by appeal to the agreement that would be made suitably situated rational, free and equal persons.” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) In other words it is a rational agreement between men. Hobbes is notorious for using this theory to come to the conclusion that man should give in to the command of an absolute power.
One of Thomas Hobbes’ most famous works is Leviathan. In Leviathan Chapter 13, Hobbes covers five points about the nature of man.
1. Nature has made man equal. One man may be stronger or smarter, but he difference can be made up somehow. The weakest could build up enough strength to get rid of or kill the other by using a...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that nature has made man equal. one man may be stronger or smarter, but he difference can be made up somehow. the weakest could build up enough strength to get rid of or kill the other by using a secret conspiracy.
- Explains that if two men want something only one can have, they become enemies and attempt to destroy or subdue one another. a person who only fears the powers of another man will work with a group to take his possessions and his life or liberty.
- Explains that distrust causes every man to live in fear of one another. without the common power, everyone is at war with everyone. there would be no industry, commerce, arts, building, society, or education.
- Analyzes how hobbes questions man's ability to invade and destroy each other. he locks his doors and chests when he knows there are laws and public officers that will do something if an incident occurred.
- Explains that thomas hobbes was an english philosopher from the 17th century who in now considered one of the greatest political philosophers.
- Analyzes how thomas hobbes examines the life of man that formerly lived in a peaceful government.
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- Political Theory Of Thomas Hobbesopinionated essayThomas Hobbes was a political theorist and English philosopher during the 1600’s. His work, among many others, of his time played an important role in the shaping of society today. Hobbes is a man of many ideas and thoughts. His focus was political philosophy, which is the questioning of things such as politics, government, and justice in society. This questioning led to the idea of his greatest work The Leviathan. Hobbes explains his thoughts and understanding of the way society works, and how he believes it should work. His inspiration behind this was the chaos that coincided with England being at civil war.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that thomas hobbes was a political theorist and english philosopher during the 1600s. his work played an important role in shaping society today.
- Explains that thomas hobbes was born on april 5, 1588, in westport, wiltshire, england. his father abandoned his family and fled to london, where his uncle took over the fatherly figure.
- Explains that hobbes became a tutor after magdalen college, where he tutored the cavendish family, which gave him access to many things that helped further educate him. he wanted to fix the issues that were happening at home in england.
- Analyzes how leviathan explains what will happen to england if people try to rise in social class. the key to well-being is to take notice that as long the ruler keeps their stability and reign in a fashionable manner, all is well in the world.
- Opines that hobbes' former knowledge helped him understand politics and government. the idea of man letting government rule, if they keep the peace, is a great thought.
- Opines that thomas hobbes believes against war and conflict, although he turns around and says that any man will fight for what they desire.
- Opines that thomas hobbes was an important man in england's history. he helped england have a more efficient government, and elude chaos.
950 wordsRead More - The Influence of Locke and Hobbes on Governmentanalytical essayThomas Hobbes and John Locke have authored two works that have had a significant impact on political philosophy. In the “Leviathan” by Hobbes and “Two Treatises of Government” by Locke, the primary focus was to analyze human nature to determine the most suitable type of government for humankind. They will have confounding results. Hobbes concluded that an unlimited sovereign is the only option, and would offer the most for the people, while for Locke such an idea was without merit. He believed that the government should be limited, ruling under the law, with divided powers, and with continued support from its citizens. With this paper I will argue that Locke had a more realistic approach to identifying the human characteristics that organize people into societies, and is effective in persuading us that a limited government is the best government.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that thomas hobbes and john locke have authored two works that have had a significant impact on political philosophy.
- Explains that thomas hobbes believes that the optimal form of authority is one that has absolute power over its people, consisting of just one person who retains the exclusive ability to oversee and decide on all of society's issues.
- Analyzes hobbes' views on human nature, what the state of nature consists of, and what role morality plays in the leviathan.
- Explains that moral laws, with the principal being that people "ought to endeavour peace" with any means necessary, will not bind in foro externo in the state of nature.
- Analyzes hobbes' view that it would be rational for people to initiate an agreement that would extinguish crippling difficulties. psychological egoism has an important role in this.
- Explains that a strong ruler must come in, seize power, establish an absolute monarchy, and rule with an iron fist over those people that were recently fighting for their lives.
- Analyzes how an organized society forms in which the consequences of not adhering to the rules and regulations of the covenant will be so severe that no one would attempt to violate this contract and disobey the sovereign.
- Explains that the limitless sovereign is justified based on hobbes' views on human nature.
- Analyzes how locke concludes that hobbes' ideas are erroneous and that the ideal government would be limited, decentralized, and rule under the law and operate with separated powers.
- Compares locke's "two treatises of government" and hobbes' apocalyptic version of nature.
- Argues that locke's state of nature allows humanity to govern itself, even when taking into account issues that come with a self-interested body of people.
- Explains that the state of nature, according to locke, is a place without set government, where people have unlimited rights. the people are bound by the natural law.
- Analyzes how papadogiannis 6harm others "in their life, liberty, health, and property" and expect their own rights to be respected. hobbes would argue that the father or mother would kill their neighbor for food.
- Argues that locke's individualism is crucial when he tries to persuade his reader on the importance of a limited government.
- Analyzes locke's argument that an unlimited sovereign is an illogical notion. since the neighbor is innocent, he or she is permitted to defend their life.
- Explains that for a state of war to be avoided, common authority is imperative. citizens will have to part with some of their unlimited rights to this new government.
1741 wordsRead More - Analysis Of Thomas Hobbes Social Contract Theoryanalytical essayThomas Hobbes has a primary emphasis on the state of nature and the social contract. Hobbes’s theory is categorized in several different ways. First, he is considered a pseudo natural law theorist. This is because he bases many of his premises on natural law. Additionally, Hobbes is referred to as a social contract theorist because he initiated the philosophical concept of the social contract. Finally, Hobbes can be categorized as a justice theorist, since many of his writings deal with justice and the state.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that thomas hobbes's theory is categorized in several different ways. he is considered a pseudo natural law theorist, and he initiated the philosophical concept of the social contract.
- Explains that hobbes's political theory is based on the principle of human self-motion: appetites and aversions.
- Explains john locke's support for the social contract theory, stating that the government is established only as a definite way of carrying out the will of the majority.
- Explains that locke believes that natural law requires all to respect the rights of others. good and evil can be defined in terms of pleasure and pain produced by actions.
- Analyzes how rousseau believes that human beings are equally involved in and capable of achieving freedom. he argues that in a state of nature individuals are indifferent to each other.
- Analyzes how hegel's dialectical method inspired both conservative and radical critics to expand the dialectic into the realm of true social criticism.
- Analyzes how nietzsche's analysis of democracy provides the most realistic assessment of the world and democracy.
- Analyzes how nietzsche's interpretation of good and evil was unfortunate to say the least in his mind.
1024 wordsRead More - Thomas Hobbes Social Contract Theoryanalytical essayMerriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a social contract as an actual or hypothetical agreement among the members of an organized society or between a community and its ruler that defines and limits the rights and duties of each. Social contract theory is rightly associated with modern moral and political theory and is given its first full exposition and defense by Thomas Hobbes. Thomas Hobbes defends the claim that it is never rational to behave unjustly. According to Hobbes, our human nature prevents us from naturally living at peace with one another. Hobbes depicts this by describing a pre-political state of nature in which people constantly war. To move beyond this state of nature, we recognize the need to seek peace, the need to give up our hostile rights, and the need to keep our agreements. Accordingly, we enter into a social contract with one another and establish a
In this essay, the author
- Explains that social contract theory is rightly associated with modern moral and political theory and is given its first full exposition and defense by thomas hobbes.
- Explains that thomas hobbes' theory of social contract appeared for the first time in leviathan in the year 1651, during the civil war in britain.
- Analyzes how hobbes infers from his mechanistic theory of human nature that humans are necessarily and exclusively self-interested.
- Argues that hobbes believed that social contract is a useful conceptual tool to understand the limits of political power and the scope of human rights.
- Explains that social contract theorists misunderstand the nature of political power. a nation state is not a club.
- Argues that the social contract idea must assume that individuals in the state of nature are clothed with rights.
- Explains that successful minorities are routinely hated and subject to mob violence by majorities all over the world, which makes the term social contract meaningless. a contract has meaning only if all parties involved voluntarily agree to it.
1044 wordsRead More - The Life and Works of Thomas Hobbesanalytical essayHobbes had a pessimistic view on society believing that individuals are selfish, and would do anything for personal gain. He feared the disarray that selfishness would create within mankind. This bias shows vastly through his work in Leviathan where he wrote that in order to have peace and security individuals must give up personal freedoms to a Sovereign Leader. An example of this being that, as part of a “social contract,” each individual relinquishes the right to take property from another. These philosophies are what Thomas Hobbes is most remembered by today.
In this essay, the author
- Describes thomas hobbes as a philosopher, scientist, and historian from wiltshire, england, who defended the ideas of king charles i in the elements of war, natural and politic.
- Explains that hobbes had a pessimistic view on society believing that individuals are selfish, and would do anything for personal gain. he feared the disarray that selfishness would create within mankind.
- Explains that leviathan was written while thomas hobbes lived in paris during the english civil war. he stated that the state of nature is a terrible way for humankind to live.
- Analyzes how hobbes explains that in order to restore peace and stability, individuals must give up their personal rights to a superior leader or group of leaders. this new leader has authority to make all decisions for the people under the "commonwealth."
- Analyzes how hobbes states that it is not acceptable for a man to pretend that he is bonded to god. someone must represent him and this would be considered unwarranted.
- Explains that the united states of america was in a comparable position with the articles of confederation. the central government dealt only with international business and wars.
- Analyzes how shays' rebellion in 1786 proved the weakness between states and the national government.
- Explains that the constitution of the united states created a bond between the states to insure equality throughout the nation.
- Cites "thomas hobbes". the biography channel website.
649 wordsRead More - John Locke And Thomas Hobbes: The Age Of Reason Or Enlightenmentanalytical essayOur first individual, Thomas Hobbes, wrote many books about history, geometry, the physics, theology, ethics, and philosophy; however, the one that made him known as the father of political science and one of the great philosophers of all time is the book Leviathan. In it Hobbes sets out his doctrine of the foundation of a legitimate government that would basically fit human sin by creating an objective view of morality.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the 17th and 18th centuries in europe are often known as the age of reason or enlightenment, which explored themes of social upheaval, personal status, political satire, geographical exploration, and the comparison between the states of men in a civilized society.
- Explains that hobbes wrote many books about history, geometry, physics, theology, ethics, and philosophy, but the book leviathan made him the father of political science and one of the great philosophers of all time.
- Explains that leviathan was written during the english civil war and was influenced by it. hobbes believed that all people are intrinsically motivated to provide themselves with as many resources as possible.
- Explains that hobbes believed that men don't take any pleasure in the other's company when there’s no power capable of keeping all with respect toward each other, leading to a war of all against all for recognition, for the preservation of life, and the realization of what one man wishes.
- Analyzes hobbes' ideal government, where a single figure oversees the country and rules using fear. he believed that fear was the most effective way to control the citizenry and prevent disorder.
- Analyzes how the question of equality and freedom is seen by hobbes differently from the more conventional of this kind, as seen in the revolutions against kings’ absolute power, especially during the french revolution.
- Analyzes how locke was optimistic, stating that all humans were capable and strove for the betterment of the world. he criticized the hobbes idea of an authocratic power.
- Explains locke's proponent of a representative democracy, which allowed rational, thinking people to contribute to their governance, but kept any one individual’s wants from crowding out the others.
- Opines that the enlightenment's legacy can be seen today, everywhere. the ideas of locke and hobbes are alive and used, with people still debating them.
793 wordsRead More - Hobbes and Locke: The Power Debateanalytical essayThomas Hobbes and John Locke were seventeenth century political philosophers whose different beliefs stemmed from the different contexts in which each man lived.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hobbes and locke perceive natural rights and human nature in very different ways.
- Analyzes how hobbes and locke disagreed on the role of government in maintaining peace and preventing internal and external conflict.
- Compares hobbes' and locke's views about the appropriate role of government in society, and argues that both philosophers do not seem realistic about human nature.
- Analyzes how hobbes and locke's contrasting theories of human nature define government’s control of individuals’ rightful place in society.
- Compares thomas hobbes and john locke, two seventeenth-century political philosophers whose different beliefs stemmed from the different contexts in which each man lived.
1209 wordsRead More - Analysis of the Writings of Thomas Hobbes and J.J.C. Smartanalytical essayAnalysis of the Writings of Thomas Hobbes and J.J.C. Smart A term paper contrived is only as good as the sources from which it is assembled. It is from these reservoirs of knowledge that the bulk of a paper is developed. That is why it is absolutely imperative that the qualities of these sources are immaculate and relevant to the subject matter. Given my subject matter, ethical obligations and violence, it is critical to note and record the viewpoint of different philosophical ethical theories through the writings of different philosophers. Excerpts form Thomas Hobbes’ The Leviathan and J.J.C. Smart in Ethics for the Modern Life, prove to be effective in both previously matriculated qualities.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the writings of thomas hobbes and j.j.c. smart in ethics for the modern life.
- Analyzes how thomas hobbes argues from a modified psychological egoist stand in the leviathan that every one has an intrinsically engrained psychological tendency to act selfishly and that it takes hard work and individual sacrifice to obtain altruistic goals.
- Analyzes how hobbes is separated from other psychological egoists in his belief that man has the opportunity to ascend out of the barbarous state of nature to a higher plane of security and society.
- Analyzes how j.j.c. smart's objectives center around an ethical theory that he feels all men should accept and participate in.
- Analyzes how thomas hobbes' strength in his convictions solidifies his arguments to audiences of both high expertise and those with less formal education in the subject.
- Analyzes how hobbes' reputation is a positive attribute that sets him apart from the crowd and consequently makes his work verifiably good. although its first publication was in 1651, there have been few deviations to his ideology.
- Analyzes how j.j.c. smart expostulates effectively, despite being less well-known than thomas hobbes, his thesis remains relevant throughout time.
- Argues that hobbes' the leviathan is the strongest argument against psychological egoism itself, which is that all acts done by man are selfish in nature.
- Opines that hobbes stands without strong opposition against the unknown motives of the subconscious mind, which makes for a good source.
- Analyzes how smart, although not without opposition as hobbes appears to be, does not give a spot in his writing to the common opposition that utilitarian views sometimes receive.
- Explains that hobbes and smart, both well-known and respected philosophers, produce the ultimate examples of good sources.
823 wordsRead More - Comparing John Locke and Thomas Hobbesargumentative essayThomas Hobbes and John Locke are two political philosophers who are famous for their theories about the formation of the society and discussing man in his natural state.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that thomas hobbes and john locke are political philosophers who are famous for their theories about the formation of the society and discussing man in his natural state.
- Argues that humans are born neutral, and if we are raised to be good, we will mature into good human beings. the theories of thomas hobbes and john locke are interesting.
- Compares hobbes' theory of men at their natural state being at constant war, the war of all against all, and his belief that humans are driven to maximize personal gains.
- Explains that john locke maintained that the original state of nature was happy and characterized by reason and tolerance.
- Explains locke's view that men are independent and equal and the reason for joining society is the willingness to avoid conflicts and war.
- Explains that thomas hobbes believed that people should be ruled by one person, and that one ruler would help prevent chaos and wars. he sees the government or ruler as a powerful sovereign.
- Argues that hobbes and locke agree that it is the right and the responsibility of the people to overthrow the government.
- Compares hobbes' and locke's views on human nature and how a government should be run. both view people as being run by selfishness, whereas they are naturally kind.
1242 wordsRead More - Locke's Theory Of A Social Contract By Hobbes And Lockeanalytical essayThe founding fathers were politicians but, were also brilliant political philosophers. They looked for help for the western tradition of political philosophy as they looked for the ideal government. Hobbes and Locke both theorized that in any society, there existed a “state of nature” when there was no government. The second treatise contains Locke’s own view of justification for the civil government.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hobbes and locke both theorized that in any society, there existed a "state of nature" when there was no government.
- Analyzes how hobbes and locke had different views on the terms of a social contract.
- Analyzes how hobbes and locke had different views on the terms of the social contract between a ruler and the ruled.
- Analyzes how locke expressed his political ideas in "two treaties of government". he believed that before governments became to be, a state of nature existed.
- Explains that locke felt that people should have equal rights and live without a ruler. the state of nature is the natural condition of mankind.
- Analyzes how locke expressed his political ideas in "two treaties of government". he believed that before governments became to be, a state of nature existed.
- Explains that locke felt that people should have equal rights and live without a ruler. the state of nature is the natural condition of mankind.
858 wordsRead More