Hobbs

Hobbes gives us his estimation of the nature of mankind by initially showing that all men are generally equal. The strongest man can be beaten by the weakest, if the weaker man uses some other force. When it comes to intelligence Hobbes claims men are even more equal, since all men are of equal experience, which is the only way to gain wisdom.

Once Hobbes shows that all men are equals he goes on to explain their interactions. These interactions lead to a war of every man verses every man. If two men want something of which there is only one then this leads to each trying to destroy the other. Competition also rises when men want what others have. Men join forces in order to bring down a man who possesses more than they want him to. War also rises from diffidence, according to Hobbes. Men must always be on guard, because they cannot trust others not to attack them. This causes men to go out and conquer others, since one cannot survive if always on the defensive. Hobbes has one more reason for the state of war: glory. Men want others to look up at them with respect. In order to gain such a reputation, a man will try to conquer others to gain their respect and by example the respect of others. So Hobbes concludes that there are 3 basic causes for war: competition, diffidence, and glory.

This all leads to a state of war, all versus all. The state of nature is constantly at war, which Hobbes claims is not merely battle, but even the threat of battle. This constant state of war leads to no form of industry or culture, since every man lives in fear of all others. Hobbes’s gives an example of this fear by pointing out that even today we lock our doors, because we do not trust our fellow man. He also shows how many savage tribes have been observed in this state of constant war, when no sovereign rules. Hobbes’s goes on to claim that even now men slip into this state of civil war between each other. Kings are constantly fighting over land and are always on guard against enemies.

Hobbes’s says that there is no justice or injustice in this original state of nature, because there are no laws or sovereign to enforce them.