PP Leviathan - Lecture notes 1 PDF

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PP Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes Summarised 24/09 – chapter 13, 14, 15 Chapter 13: State of nature Chapter 14: The first and second natural law/ Social contract Chapter 15: Other laws of nature 01/10 – chapter 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter

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Generation of commonwealth Rights of sovereigns Succession of sovereigns Paternal dominion/ Despot Liberty of subjects

Chapter 13 – State of Nature -

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Not much difference in physical and mental abilities among humans. Since abilities are similar, humans naturally desire equal results. Therefore, if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies. An invader vs. one individual/ united invaders vs. one powerful individual/ invader faces danger from others as well. Humans always doubt each other, and everyone is at risk. Therefore, the most effective way to self preserve is to use force to control others, and until there is no enough power to endanger yourself.

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Once someone else’s evaluation of himself is lower than his expectation, he will be dissatisfied and will harm others.

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Three principals cause for quarrel: first, competition for gain; second, difference for safety; third, glory for reputation.

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However, neither of us accuse man’s nature in it. The desire, and other passions of man, are in themselves no sin.

Chapter 14 – First and Second Natural Laws/ Social Contract -

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Natural law, aka natural rights, means that everyone has the liberty to preserve their life according to their their own wishes and strength. That is, everyone can do anything according to their own judgement and rationality. Therefore, this will lead to inevitable conflict. 1. Therefore, in order to avoid this, we can deduce the following general rule: everyone should strive for peace as long as he has

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hope for peace; when he cannot get peace, he can seek all favourable conditions, including war to preserve himself. 2. From the first law of nature, the second law of nature can be derived: under the condition that others are wiling to strive for peace and self-preservation, a person voluntarily gives up such rights to everything. The waiver or transfer of rights, expressed in the form of an agreement, is what people call a contract. Or simply, the contract is the mutual transfer of rights. In the absence of coercive power, contract alone is not sufficient to constrain ambition, greed, anger and other passion of humans, so the party who performs the obligation first cannot determine whether the opposite party will fulfil the obligation in the future. But if there is a common force on both sides to urge the parties to perform, then the contract will not be invalid. Because promise is not enough to force contractors to fulfil their commitments, then people find two ways to strengthen the promise: one is the fear of the consequences of breach of contract, and the other is the glory or pride felt by a promise.

Chapter 15 – Other natural laws -

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Summarised as “Do unto others, do not impose on others” Good and evil are the nouns that express our desires and dislikes. When personal desires are the measure of good and evil, humans are in a mere state of nature. However, if we have all these natural laws, and if people all obey them, we’ll have a common measure of good and evil. All people agree that peace is good, and thus they way to achieve peace, such as justice, gratitude, modesty and other natural laws, is also good/ virtue, and the opposite of them is evil.

Chapter 17 – Generation of Commonwealth -

In the state of nature, because of human nature, it’s inevitable to have war. For security, humans unite as a community, trying to protect themselves from war. Community doesn’t guarantee security for 1. Comparison with enemies’ power 2. Self interested leadership Therefore, a common force is needed to deter everyone. Why humans cannot live together like other living creatures? 1. Glory seeking 2. Superiority 3. Self-important 4. Stir up trouble 5. Flaunt 6. Contract needing Therefore, in order to live together, humans need a common force to unite everyone.

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Everyone’s right is entrusted to an individual or a group who can turn everyone’s will into a common will.

Chapter 18 － Rights of sovereigns -

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Sovereign supremacy No form of government is perfect, even if it causes damage to the people, it is not worth mentioning compared with the damage caused to the people by war and anarchy. Humans are short-sighted, lacking political foresight.

Chapter 19 – Succession of sovereigns -

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For the peace and security of the country, the sovereign power of a country must have a certain continuity. This is the succession of sovereign. In democracy, parliament. In aristocracy, few members of parliament. In monarchy, the monarch. In democracy and aristocracy, sovereign passes on by election in parliament. In monarchy, succession is decided by monarch through will (contract).

Chapter 20 - Paternal dominion/ Despot -

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Whether or not parental dominion belongs to father or mother should be judged by the manner of the succession of the sovereign, which is contract. The control over the conquered is not decided by victory, but by contract.

Chapter 21- Liberty of subjects -

No country’s laws are there to regulate people’s all words and deeds. Therefore, it is derived that what the law does not prohibit is what people can do. Therefore, under the premise of obeying the law, you have the right to do what you think is most beneficial to you. However, it is ridiculous to regard liberty as something not restricted by law. If the law is not backed by coercive power, its deterrence does not exist, and there is no way to protect people in the country....